11 September 2008

I couldn’t write last night.

I saw so many places yesterday. Yesterday was the best so far.

Jay’s mom took me on a boat ride down the Golden Horn to cross over to the Asian side. From the boat you see the city rising from the sea, the distant hills dotted with minarets from this and that mosque or palace.



We walked around Kadikoy for awhile, I ate some doner. Yum! Then we took a bus that would take us back to the European side via the bridge. My goodness. Crossing the bridge was wonderful. The view was great. I couldn’t stop taking photos.

Back in Europe, we got off and walked some more. I got to see more of the old walls of Istanbul. Also passed by the Christian cemetery, and then a Muslim cemetery. These I saw merely walking back to Jay’s house.

In the afternoon, she took me out again, this time to the mosque in Eminonu. It’s like their version of St. Peter’s in Rome. I don’t mean its religious equivalent, but its dove thing equivalent. So many birds on the square. And people buying bird food to feed to them and get their photo taken in action.


We went inside the mosque and I heard people praying. Well it was more like someone chanting into the microphone and the people praying along quietly to themselves. I had to wear a veil to enter this one.



From there we walked again to the Grand Bazaar, saw more things. I guess I will when I drop by again on my way home to Manila. Can’t store whatever I’d buy for more than a year!But my goodness, so many stuff to buy! Spices for one. Then carpets, that nargile, jewellery, etc. I have to remember that mom wants a musical instrument.

After the Grand Bazaar, she took me to an underground water cistern from the Byzantine period. That was cool. I will let the pictures do the talking for this one. I told Jay I want him to take me there again – there’s a nice little café right by the exit that looks so quaint and romantic.


And that was it for the day. I was wasted. Well, maybe not me, but my feet. They hurt until now actually. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do more walking today – which I am sure is on the agenda.

I am cross with Jay. I had a hard time reaching him last night. I don’t want that to happen again. Ever.

He just called. And despite everything, and I guess, because of everything, I miss him so much. I don’t know what to do anymore.

I hear his mother preparing breakfast for me outside. I better go. Because I love breakfast over here! Cheese, bread, butter, olives, jam, even freshly squeezed orange juice! Çok lezzetliydi!

Gotta go!

11 September 2008
6.57 am Istanbul time