More food today! We decided we should spend more than 30 min in Asia on this trip, so we went back to the yogurt city! We took the metro to the end of a line, walked a few blocks past this cool palace, took a ferry across the Bosphorus, and then a bus north for 20 min. People were SO helpful even though the language barrier is definitely a thing and normally, we pointed to the name of the city in our guidebook, and then they pointed us in some direction, possibly repeating the name of the city and nodding their heads. On the bus, at least 2 different people told us that the next stop was the one we wanted (in fewer words, of course). Great people.
The yogurt was fantastic, just like before. I had two. Later, I did not feel very good, but I don't regret it because that was my last opportunity for amazing yogurt! Ali thinks it might be the best yogurt she's ever had, partially due to the honey on top, which is what looks yellow.
Outside the cafe!
A friend.
Local architecture. It was very pleasant to be in a calm, residential neighborhood. Very different than where we've spent most of our time on this trip.
A view of a mosque in the neighborhood where we caught the ferry on the Asian side, with the Bosphorus behind it.
A different mosque that we went in. Slightly less touristy than the Blue Mosque but still beautiful.
Probably my favorite thing I've seen in this city.
Dinner from another cafeteria place. The first one is mine. Of course I ate more yogurt because 400g earlier wasn't enough!
Ali got a giant meatball with a giant mashed potato scoop. Also delicious. I will miss this food. Staying here for so long has meant we had to eat in a lot of restaurants, which is expensive, but it also meant we got to eat in a lot of restaurants, which was wonderful.
Also, when we were standing on a crowded bus heading back toward the ferry, we were surrounded by some older women who were chatting and talking on a cell phone by passing it back and forth, and then then started eating candy, and then one offered some to Ali, who held out her hand, but she gave her the whole box, so then we ate some yogurt-covered nuts, and then Ali asked me, "So what did you learn when you were five years old?"
Hint: it has to do with candy and strangers... But people are just the best here. Since the bus was quite crowded, sometimes people had to get on at the middle doors instead of the front, and they would just pass up their bus card and someone would tap it and then it would get passed back. GREAT culture. That would never happen at home! We think the people here are nicer than anywhere we've ever been, and while we're pretty satisfied with the Istanbul experience overall (aka we've seen most of it) and don't need to come back soon, I'd recommend it purely because the people (especially when you get away from the salespeople) are incredible.
It's currently 11:15pm, and we're leaving in about 4 hours to go to the airport, and flying out at 6am to be back in the US at noon if all goes well!!
