Istanbul My Heart

Besides conquering 3 continents in 1 day (Africa, Europe, Asia)…I would say these past two days have been the best of my life.
We arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday morning, drove straight to the Bosporus Straits and took a boat cruise, with Europe on the left and Asia on the right. Taking in the sights of Istanbul is really exhilarating. It is so different from Cairo, a completely different culture…it feels extremely European. So far, we have taken a cruise, frolicked around downtown, consumed authentic Turkish food, apple tea, Turkish delights, the heartiest sweet potato stuffed full of stuff ever in the world, played backgammon at a street café, went to an Ottoman palace next to the Haggia Sofia (which we will go to on Saturday), and walked over the Bosporus Bridge. Not to mention, this morning we met with a Turkish international journalist who is a self proclaimed “elite.” Didn’t learn much we already didn’t know…Turkey’s politics are fascinating, confusing, etc. etc. [on this note: I feel like I haven’t been clear about this ‘travel component’. we aren’t sightseeing the whole time, the purpose is to meet with important figures in each country to understand internal and regional politics better] Tomorrow, we meet with the AK Party, the political party of the President and Prime Minister, and then we go to the US Embassy to meet with a diplomat.
My first two days here have enlightened me to my NEED (and new number one priority) to marry a Turk! Here’s why:
1. They are really really good looking. (had to get that out of the way first)
2. Turkey is the most B.A. country…half European, half Middle Eastern. It is “pivot”-al. bahaha
3. The waterfront of the Sea of Marmara is something worth investing in.
4. The future of world domination is in the hands of Turkey (if only they can figure out the human rights thing, as well as a couple other topics….there is a lot that could go here).
5. Turkey is close to Greece. honeymoon?
6. Istanbul has more history than anywhere I have been….Byzantine Empire, then Ottomans. I have decided that I, on the behalf of America, would accept a couple centuries of Byzantium rule in the US for all of the awesome buildings it will leave behind.
7. Turkish delights are the best nightcap anyone could hope for.
8. Additionally, I spent $1.25 on a fantastic meal today…cheap food is a big incentive.
9. Istanbul is a “walkable” city….everything is close and there is always a waterfront close by. You can never walk to long without passing a mosque that will take your breath away, cobble stone streets, anyone? It took us an hour to walk from the Palace that both the Byzantines and the Ottomans used back to our hotel. On the way we passed the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, a bridge, and a university.
10. Turkey might be joining the E.U. and that would make European travel really cheap and convenient.
11. Plus, who wouldn’t want to reproduce with what could be the relative on Geghis Khan?

So, tomorrow I will not only meet with some politicians but I also hope to score a date or two (gotta keep my options open)

All this to say the I LOVE TURKEY. more to come.