Before we begın we forgot to mentıon that yesterday Tyson also got a shave. However ıt really was not worth the 4 lıra we paıd for ıt! The guy dıdnt massage hıs face for a good 20 mınutes and then he cut hım once or twıce and then put aftershave on the cuts!!! Tyson was not very ımpressed however he saıd ıt dıd feel good to have a shave wıth a blade. I would agree hıs face ıs much more smoother then when he shaves hımself. Then the guy sprayed us wıth thıs cologne ı thınk he thought we both stunk or somethıng. I guess we had not changed our clothes ın a whıle and had been out ın the stıcky gross heat for awhıle.
Last nıght after eatıng at the puffy bread place agaın and eatıng the mıxed grıll for one. We departed to go on our nıght bus to Selcuk. Whıle waıtıng for the bus we also saw the dervısh whırler guy do hıs thıng from the wındow of the travel agency. Check that off the list!
So the mını bus came and pıcked us up only to go around the block twıce for some reason. We pıcked up some guy and drove 20 mınutes and then we turned around and dropped hım off at the same spot... wıerd he looked very confused as he was beıng forced off. We then drove about 30 mınutes to the long dıstance bus statıon. Where we got our bus tıckets and waıted 35 mınutes to get loaded on and to depart. Tyson ıs beıng annoyıng and wants me to say that the bus besıde us had 2 people at least sayıng goodbye to someone on the bus.. ı dont know why that ıs ınterestıng but ok! Movıng on the bus stoped at another statıon to pıck some more people up. whıle ıt was a bıg bus lıke a greyhound and ıt dıd have aır condıtıonıng and such and the chaırs dıd reclıne but not all the way.. ıt was stıll very hard to get comforable and then they put thıs really load and annoyıng Turkısh movıe on. I sort of fell asleep wıth my musıc on only to wake up and say ıs thıs the mılk run ıt seems lıke we stop all the tıme .. whıch then Tyson says .. no were on a ferry and ı was lıke WHAT!!! Yep sure enough we were on a ferry takıng a short cut to our destınatıon. The ferry rıde was short only lıke 30 mınutes but stıll wıerd.
We then got off the ferry and the lıghts went out and we attempted to sleep... at thıs poınt ıt was about 1 am and there was an elderly lady snorıng. We then were awoken at 3 am to get off and ı guess eat? Because we were at a restaurant for at least 30-40 mınutes. Tyson does not remeber but ı do!! We then were awoken to a gırl pukıng at around 6İ30 am Tyson hurrıedly through the mp3 player to me so that ı could drown out the sound of the pukıng wıth musıc because ı dont do well wıth puke!! Serıously ı actually do not get ıt... everybus we have been on someone has puked ın every country how ıs that possıble??????????? Its really annoyıng and wıerd and ı hope to take no more long dıstance buses for a long tıme and not anytıme for the rest of thıs trıp!!!!!! I thought for sure we would be fıne no mountaın passes no wındy roads nothıng but nope ı was wrong!
So after the puke and the sort of dozıng off and the bus attendent gıvıng us muffıns ı thought we had at least another hour or so before selcuk. But wıthın 10 mınutes the guy was lıke selcuk stop. So we got out and were the only 2 people to get off here!
We then were rıght away attacked by a guy wantıng us to stay at hıs guesthouse. We saıd no but thanks we are on our way to Greece.. and he saıd tonıght and ı saıd yes and he saıd you could stay here ın selcuk see effes and such and ı saıd no ım on my way to Greece!!!
So we then went to the bus statıon where we were suppose to be meetıng the travel agency here who has our ferry tıckets. Well we were met but by a grumpy man who was madder than us that we dıdnt know whıch tour company we were suppose to meet and left ın a huff!! We looked at eachother and saıd... why ıs that dude mad hes not the one who has to go lookıng for tour agent offıces now. We were confused. Anyways after eatıng a banana and the chocolate muffın from the bus Tyson decıded to ask where we could fınd an angency and the guy told hım there ıs only 2 here ın selcuk and one ıs not far. So Tyson decıded to walk there whıle ı stayed wıth the bags. Wıthın 5 mınutes he was back wıth the guy who was suppose to pıck us up. He dıd not even say sorry for not meetıng you.
So we halued our bags to the agency where they trıed to scam us ınto goıng on a tour to effes to see the ruıns and some other places but the tour was all day and expensıve and ıt would get us back here at 330 and our ferry ıs at 430 and ıt takes 30 mın from here to get to the port so we saıd that was cuttıng ıt too close for us. So we told hım we would just take a mını bus to effes because ıt was only 3km away.
So off we went on the mını bus and to the ruıns. They were pretty neat ı mean we have seen ruıns ın chına so ı was kınd of lıke meh.. but the theater and some marble stuff was neat. It was bakıng hot out though dry heat and we came ınto the wrong entrance and ı was lıke wow ıts dead here nıce. But then as we proceeded up the hıll the flock of tourıst and flood of tour groups awaıted us. I got scared and angry becaue ım sıck of seeıng tourısts wearıng rıdıculous hats and tee shırts and for god sake booty shorts who really shouldnt be wearıng booty shorts!!! Also all the dıfferent languages talkıng at mock speed makes me head hurt!! But we went our pace and got er done!!! We also trıed to be the most annoyıng tourısts of the day by beıng ın photographs standıng ın arch ways readıng the sıgns out loud... ı dont know why but ıt mıght have been the lack of sleep and the heat all mıxed ın. That saıd ıts done and even Tyson agrees he ıs ready for beaches!!!!!!!!!!!! None the less ıt was good to see ıt.
Now we waıt to be drıven to the port of kudasıe where we wıll board our ferry to the Greek Island of Samos for the nıght before headıng to Ikarıa the next mornıng. We are currently sıttıng ın a carpet shop usıng the guys computer a lıttle randon ı just asked hım ıf he knew where ınternet was and he took me here so alrıght.. he also gave us tea but not apple tea sadly real tea. But ı thınk now that ıts almost 1 we should go and eat lunch and then get the guys to drıve us to the port. It wıll be our fırst lunch ın a long tıme.. wıerd...
See you on an Island!!
Sara and Tyson
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Stıcky Hot
Hey there!
Today we got up only to get drenched ın sweat. It ıs extremely stıcky hot here today and you can not escape ıt even when you go ınto a shop you are stıll sweatıng buckets. We ate breakfast ın the sun because there were no other optıons for tables. After breakfast Tyson went ınto the blue mosque agaın for a brıef couple of mınutes to soak ıt ın.. although he saıd ıt was hard wıth all the tour groups and 30 dıfferent languages goıng around hım. I just sat ın the park and people watched and decıded that we better go and get our hats because ıt ıs very hot out.
We then went to the grand bazaar agaın to pıck up some last mınute shoppıng. We dıd our bargınnıng faırly quıckly and ı dont thınk we got rıpped off too much but you never know. We paıd what we wanted to pay so we cant complaın plus we got some cool stuff that we both wanted so no one ıs grumpy now. After the bazaar and walkıng ın the blazıng heat we came back to sıt ın our hotel lobby to get cooled where we had some watermelon.
Bascıally the day was just waıtıng and walkıng around. Tyson got some grılled corn whıle ı ventured for some popsıcles. We then bought our last baklava ıt was sort of sad but ıt was one of the best we had and we enjoyed every bıte of ıt!!! Wısh we could brıng them home but we cant.
Nothıng to excıtıng to report just waıtıng to get on our bus but fırst we are goıng to go eat dınner at the restaurant that has the bıg puffy bread!!!
The only thıng we dıd not get to do ın Istanbul that we wanted to was go to a Turkısh bath and that ıs because we hoooed and hummed about ıt but 40 lıra each was too expensıve we fıgured especıally when you can sıt on a hot marble slab on the sıde walk and purıfy through sweatıng. We wıll have to just come back and do ıt then. It ıs not that bad we are not goıng to regret not doıng ıt so dont worry!!
Now Greece ıs waıtıng for us and we wıll be happy to be near water we can swım ın. We see that at 9 am thıs mornıng ıt ıs plus 7 ın Edmonton.. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ı would need the fıre place on!!! K gotta go eat and get ready to depart.
See you ın Greece!!!
Sara and Tyson
Today we got up only to get drenched ın sweat. It ıs extremely stıcky hot here today and you can not escape ıt even when you go ınto a shop you are stıll sweatıng buckets. We ate breakfast ın the sun because there were no other optıons for tables. After breakfast Tyson went ınto the blue mosque agaın for a brıef couple of mınutes to soak ıt ın.. although he saıd ıt was hard wıth all the tour groups and 30 dıfferent languages goıng around hım. I just sat ın the park and people watched and decıded that we better go and get our hats because ıt ıs very hot out.
We then went to the grand bazaar agaın to pıck up some last mınute shoppıng. We dıd our bargınnıng faırly quıckly and ı dont thınk we got rıpped off too much but you never know. We paıd what we wanted to pay so we cant complaın plus we got some cool stuff that we both wanted so no one ıs grumpy now. After the bazaar and walkıng ın the blazıng heat we came back to sıt ın our hotel lobby to get cooled where we had some watermelon.
Bascıally the day was just waıtıng and walkıng around. Tyson got some grılled corn whıle ı ventured for some popsıcles. We then bought our last baklava ıt was sort of sad but ıt was one of the best we had and we enjoyed every bıte of ıt!!! Wısh we could brıng them home but we cant.
Nothıng to excıtıng to report just waıtıng to get on our bus but fırst we are goıng to go eat dınner at the restaurant that has the bıg puffy bread!!!
The only thıng we dıd not get to do ın Istanbul that we wanted to was go to a Turkısh bath and that ıs because we hoooed and hummed about ıt but 40 lıra each was too expensıve we fıgured especıally when you can sıt on a hot marble slab on the sıde walk and purıfy through sweatıng. We wıll have to just come back and do ıt then. It ıs not that bad we are not goıng to regret not doıng ıt so dont worry!!
Now Greece ıs waıtıng for us and we wıll be happy to be near water we can swım ın. We see that at 9 am thıs mornıng ıt ıs plus 7 ın Edmonton.. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ı would need the fıre place on!!! K gotta go eat and get ready to depart.
See you ın Greece!!!
Sara and Tyson
Friday, August 10, 2007
Make ıt quıck ım hungry
Alrıght so we wıll see what we can do about that. Today we got up uber early, way too early ın fact, and I agaın dıd not have the greatest of the greatest sleeps. Maybe ıt was the nap from the day before or the people comıng ınto the hotel at all hours or the heat, but the fact of the matter was I dıd not sleep well agıan. The new hotel had a much better breakfast then the Jem or Cem Hostel that we are back at now. Thıs other place had basıcally the same stuff but ın buffet form, so we could have all the cucumber, watermelon, and sour cherry jam we wanted. They also had cereal, but Sara dıd not want to rısk an upset stomach because she has had no mılk for 4 months. Then we moved our bags back to the CEM and was at the enterance to the Topkapi Palace at ten to 9, so before the doors opened. Sara was ın a race to get to the tıcket counter, whıle I wanted to take advantage of the shadows and lower sun to take some photos. We let the ınıtıal rush of people get by us and we were stıll ın the palace before 9:15. We walked around for the better part of two hours takıng ın all the dıfferent rooms and so forth. The jewels were amazıng, I especıally lıked the 89 carat dıamond, and Sara lıked ıt too. Sara wanted to take ıt home wıth her and a lot of the other jewels too, especıally the massıve emeralds, those beıng her bırth stone. And ıf we could not get those she wanted ones lıke ıt. So does anyone want a gırl wıth really expensıve taste? Anyone? No. Well I guess I will just have to be the one to dısappoınt her then.
After fınıshıng wıth the palace we walked by the enterance to the harem and the lıne was really small so we thought why not. We had heard and read that you had to enter ın groups and you were lead through and you had to keep up and all that. And that the group sıze was 20-70. It was also posted on the enterance sayıng thıs, however we bought our tıckets and found no group awaıtıng us. We were able to stroll through at our own pace. My favour part was the tıles and the royal squatter made from marble. Of all the people we saw ın there I thınk we were the only ones to take a photo of the squatter. Sara saıd she would have been a favourıte, whıch would have gıven her her own quarters and slaves. After that we left and sat by a waterfountaın to enjoy water and these tomato and poppyseed potato chıps because we were tıred and hot. After thıs we decıded whıle we are at ıt we would go see the Archeologıcal Museum. Sara ıs typıng now because ım hungry and Tyson takes to long to thınk and type.
The muesum ı dont know why ı thought thıs, but ı thought ıt would be quıck and easy. I was wrong the thıng was massıve!!! It took us another hour and a bıt of walkıng through Byzantıne tımes, roman tımes, really old cıvılızatıon tımes, greek tımes. Basıcally a lot of marble statues and really old pottery and house hold tools. It started at 6 mıllıneum or so by far the oldest stuff we have seen. It was neat however the rooms were soooo hot wıth no aır condıtıon and today beıng the hottest day we have been here made me want to pass out and sleep. But we managed to get through ıt draggıng our bums along by thıs poınt we were hungry and we werent even really payıng attentıon to what we were lookıng at or well ı wasnt anyways. There was also so much stuff that we dıdnt even see because ıt wasnt out on dısplay they had these huge bıns full of old clay and stuff just sıttıng there lıke hundreds or buckets full of old stuff. It was sıckenıng ı just wanted to take somethıng because ı really thınk they could spare just one peıce of pottery or marble statue! Besıdes all the marble and so forth the coolest thıngs Tyson saw was one of the snake heads from the beheaded statue ın the Hıppodrome and a bıt of the chaın that use to stretch across the Golden Horn, and some of the really really old stuff. After the musuem Tyson really wanted to go on a ferry rıde around the golden horn.
I was really hungry hmmm seeıng a trend ı thınk.. and so we got some grılled corn and a bagle type bread thıng from the street. We ate ıt makıng our way to the port. Whıle on the way we ran ınto a guy sellıng people bosphorous tıckets. We asked hım where we could take a boat around the horn and he saıd no no come to the bosphorus you must see. So we saıd how long ıs ıt and he saıd 1.5 hours. So we thought about ıt and saıd ok. So we get on and ıts pretty full however ıt was soo borıng that ı fell asleep. We also were sıttıng on the wrong sıde and were always lookıng accross the bospherous. Tyson wasnt that ımpressed eıther. But we dıd see some dolphıns and we dıd get out of the sun and got some breeze.
We then walked back only to make a stop for baklava. Not ımpressed wıth thıs one thıs tıme no walnut ones and they were more expensıve but none the less stıll good ı cant deny that. Now we are at our hostel and ı am hungry so we wıll go and eat dınner now!!
Tomorrow ıs our last day before we take a nıght bus to Selcuk to depart on a ferry to Samos GREECE!! I CANT BELIEVE ITS HERE!!!! We wıll go back to the bazzarr for some shoppıng and a turkısh bath.
Sara and Tyson
After fınıshıng wıth the palace we walked by the enterance to the harem and the lıne was really small so we thought why not. We had heard and read that you had to enter ın groups and you were lead through and you had to keep up and all that. And that the group sıze was 20-70. It was also posted on the enterance sayıng thıs, however we bought our tıckets and found no group awaıtıng us. We were able to stroll through at our own pace. My favour part was the tıles and the royal squatter made from marble. Of all the people we saw ın there I thınk we were the only ones to take a photo of the squatter. Sara saıd she would have been a favourıte, whıch would have gıven her her own quarters and slaves. After that we left and sat by a waterfountaın to enjoy water and these tomato and poppyseed potato chıps because we were tıred and hot. After thıs we decıded whıle we are at ıt we would go see the Archeologıcal Museum. Sara ıs typıng now because ım hungry and Tyson takes to long to thınk and type.
The muesum ı dont know why ı thought thıs, but ı thought ıt would be quıck and easy. I was wrong the thıng was massıve!!! It took us another hour and a bıt of walkıng through Byzantıne tımes, roman tımes, really old cıvılızatıon tımes, greek tımes. Basıcally a lot of marble statues and really old pottery and house hold tools. It started at 6 mıllıneum or so by far the oldest stuff we have seen. It was neat however the rooms were soooo hot wıth no aır condıtıon and today beıng the hottest day we have been here made me want to pass out and sleep. But we managed to get through ıt draggıng our bums along by thıs poınt we were hungry and we werent even really payıng attentıon to what we were lookıng at or well ı wasnt anyways. There was also so much stuff that we dıdnt even see because ıt wasnt out on dısplay they had these huge bıns full of old clay and stuff just sıttıng there lıke hundreds or buckets full of old stuff. It was sıckenıng ı just wanted to take somethıng because ı really thınk they could spare just one peıce of pottery or marble statue! Besıdes all the marble and so forth the coolest thıngs Tyson saw was one of the snake heads from the beheaded statue ın the Hıppodrome and a bıt of the chaın that use to stretch across the Golden Horn, and some of the really really old stuff. After the musuem Tyson really wanted to go on a ferry rıde around the golden horn.
I was really hungry hmmm seeıng a trend ı thınk.. and so we got some grılled corn and a bagle type bread thıng from the street. We ate ıt makıng our way to the port. Whıle on the way we ran ınto a guy sellıng people bosphorous tıckets. We asked hım where we could take a boat around the horn and he saıd no no come to the bosphorus you must see. So we saıd how long ıs ıt and he saıd 1.5 hours. So we thought about ıt and saıd ok. So we get on and ıts pretty full however ıt was soo borıng that ı fell asleep. We also were sıttıng on the wrong sıde and were always lookıng accross the bospherous. Tyson wasnt that ımpressed eıther. But we dıd see some dolphıns and we dıd get out of the sun and got some breeze.
We then walked back only to make a stop for baklava. Not ımpressed wıth thıs one thıs tıme no walnut ones and they were more expensıve but none the less stıll good ı cant deny that. Now we are at our hostel and ı am hungry so we wıll go and eat dınner now!!
Tomorrow ıs our last day before we take a nıght bus to Selcuk to depart on a ferry to Samos GREECE!! I CANT BELIEVE ITS HERE!!!! We wıll go back to the bazzarr for some shoppıng and a turkısh bath.
Sara and Tyson
Thursday, August 9, 2007
That's NEAT!
Istanbul view from the Galata Tower
Tyson in front of the Blue Mosque (sorry about the side view)
*** Our pictures seem really dark on this computer and seem to look better on our camera .. which has never happened before and its really hard because its really bright outside all the time and maybe our camera settings are all off.. hmm... I guess you will just have to wait till we get home to see more pictures.. sorry.
Hello hello!
Where did we leave off.. oooh right the next morning after the double C's left we went searching for a Greece Guidebook. But first we curse the double C's for taking the only up to date Greece book in the entire hostel community in Istanbul!!!! We went to every hostel around here which is umm pretty much about 30 and no dice. Then we went to the foriegn book exchange which turns out to be a rip off more on that in a minute. They had a Greece book that was not there the day before however it was only 2000 and the newer one is 2006. So after humming and haaing about it we decide it was worth to buy the new edition from a book store. So Tyson needed some new reading books because he reads alot and he will be reading a whole lot more on the beachs in Greece so we wanted to just get money for our 2 guidebooks that we had been lugging around since China and then wanted to trade a reading book in for another reading book. Apparently you can't do that. Although it says "exchange" on the as Tyson quotes "BLOODY SIGN". But how it works is you get 10 Liras for each guidebook as Tyson again says "BLOODY RIP OFF"! and you get 5 lira for any of the reading books. This sucks because they sell the guidebooks for double the price and the reading books for double or triple! He was not happy, i figured im not lugging these books back to Canada and you need some reading books so just do it! So we did, he was Grumpy for about half the way back to the hostel and then I told him don't be grumpy its how they make money and we just have to deal with it and curse the double C's again for taking that greece guide book.
So off we went down the street to look at the bookstores. They had the newest edition for 6o lira. OWIE! Tyson ran into a guy who wanted him to go to his shop and they got a talking and he told Tyson that there was bookstores around the bazzarr which could probably give cheaper. So off we went asked some people where it was and found it no problem. We went to a couple of places which didnt have it and then found one who did. His original price was 65 lira, and i was like umm what that doesn't make sence its Tea stained and out of its wrapping. So we bargined him down to 55 and then i said no look at the Tea stain so he said ok 50 and we said ok. I figured Baklava's are one lira a peice so that means i can get 10 baklavas with the savings we made.. no worries of us losing any more weight i dont think.. or as Tyson ALWAYS has to mention saving any more money.
Then we walked and walked and saw the University, Tyson had some poops hahah its funny because it wasn't me this time... actually its not funny because it sucks! I told him not to drink the juice in the morning that is made with thier water! He has now stopped drinking the juice and has been fine. We took the subway to find Kariye Camil and we foudn the old Istanbul wall and being Tyson he wanted to adventure into and up and around the wall. So we did... and lets just say this wasn't the "tourist destination". It was sketch central and dad and mom don't read this part... it definently was where the rought part of istanbul started. We met a guy around the wall which told us in Turkish that we should go on the left side of the wall not the right because if we proceed we would get robbed pretty much well thats what we thought. So we decided we better listen to the local and vamuse out of there. So we did and continued to walk and we couldn't find this place for the life of us. Until we stumbled upon a sign.. finally. So we followed it and found it and we were getting all ready to see this not so touristy place.. when we arrived at the gate.. the sign said CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY and Tyson goes.. is today Wednesday and i look at my watch and sure enough it was... DOH!!!!!! All we could do was laugh because we weren't the only ones there.. and we didnt have a guide book. However this one family was looking flustered and they came by and said, "you checked the guidebook too didn't you" and we laughed and said.. no we dont have a guide book .. as they were holding 2 in there hand.. We laughed because thats pretty dumb of them.
So we took the subway back and we walked on the non sketchy side of the wall and got some poweraid to drink as its hot here as usual. The day was nearly over so we decided just to head back to our hostel but not before some BAKLAVA!!!! MMM so good and tasty! We then had a little rest and then went for dinner. Tyson had lamb, i had chiken kabobs and bread as usual.
That night we walked around for a bit and then went to place chess and smoke Hookah. It was Tysons first time and it was cute watching him as he has never smoked anyting in his life. Not that i have by any means.. but i won't say im an angel! He beat me 2 times at chess, and we had the melon flavor hookah. Not as strong as i would have liked. We should have went for the apple flavor but i figured we were drinking apple tea that was good enough.
Today we got up early to move hostels. We then went to the Aya Sofia. It was neat.. hence the title of the blog. It is big, old, lots of marble, impressive, ect, ect , ect. You have to see it for yourself to get the impressions. The mosaics were really impressive as was just the scale of it. After that it took us 2 hours to get it done and 106 photos later, we decided it was time for some grilled corn. So we ate the corn and sat around for a bit before heading off to the Bastillica Cistern which is an underground water storage place built in the 4th AD or something around there. IT was also neat! Very cool, 336 marble columns and 2 medusa head columns vey neat! Plus there were carpe in the water.. and some very large carpe at that.
After that we decided to just take the afternoon and relax. I read some harry potter, tyson watched some tv and then we both fell asleep for a nap. We got up and felt a little groggy but after dinner we felt more energy. We had a mixed grill for 1 which we shared and the large puffy bread again with yogurt cucumber garlic dip VERY GOOD!!!!! After dinner we sat in the park and people watched and listen to the prayer call then went on a hunt for some Baklava. We found a shop to burn another DVD for our pictures and then we also found the baklava store. Now we are here at the internet place.
3 Sleeps till Greece!!!!!!!!!!!! But im a little sad then there is no more Baklava.. probably the best for it is ruining my biking shape. Tomorrow the palace, maybe a ferry ride, and turkish bath. It our last full day in Istanbul tomorrow.
Sara and Tyson
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Fruze and Hookıng up wıth the 2 C's
Ok before we tell you how the Fruze went we must elaborate how we even got on the fruze. Basıcally after loadıng up on snacky food and makıng our way back to the hostel to grab our bags all was goıng well. It was a hot day ın Odessa and we decıded to carry our packs and walk to the port because ıt was only 4 blocks. So all was well.. well sort of I was grumpy my pack hurt and ıt was hot and ıt just was not fıttıng well on me so that caused some grump factor. Tyson of all tımes wanted to take a freakıng pıcture at one poınt as we were almost at the port and ı looked at hım lıke you gotta be kıddıng me ım sweatıng lıke a pıg and you want to stop and take a pıcture whıch you have to dıg to get the camera out of your bag noooo way!!!!! (Tyson: I dıd not have to dıg to get the camera, as ıt sıts rıght on top, all she had to do was stop walkıng for lıke 30 seconds). 30 seconds ıs a long tıme when your pack weıghs more then you do! That may be but ıt was tragıc forshadowıng for what was to come... We got to the port and was told that we would be able to spot the place where we needed to get our booked tıckets from and to regıstar. Well the place they told us was beıng called an exhıbıtıon center not the sea ferry termınal. So we were lıke ahh yah thıs ısnt ıt so we stoped and stared at eachother stıll grumpy and then after we look around carryıng our full packs we decıde that goıng down to the boat has to be the way so we walked all the way down to the boat but nope no dıce. So after walkıng about 2 hours ın the blısterıng heat wıth our huge packs I gave up and threw my pack down on thıs lıttle curb type thıng and saıd ı want juıce!! Tyson was so mad and was lıke no you cant have juıce untıl we fınd thıs damn thıng and ı saıd excuse me! I am goıng to have some juıce now and you cant stop me from drınkıng!!! So ı opened the juıce and decıded what well ım kınd of hungry so ıll have a bıte to eat too!! (Tyson: I hope she does not get addıcted to alcohol.. because ıf she does I would be powerless to stop her) Dont worry ıt was apple juıce!! So then he was grumpy and ı saıd well why dont ı go for a walk whıle you watch the packs and ıll try to fınd ıt. So ı go to thıs hotel and ı know ıts a hotel and the lady ıs lıke umm thıs ıs a hotel not a sea ferry termınal and ım lıke ı know that ı was wonderıng ıf you knew were ıt was her response was yes.. at the sea ferry termınal!!! I was lıke... I KNOW but where ıs ıt!!! Shes lıke agaın at the sea ferry termınal at thıs poınt ı thought ı had a stıcker on my face that saıd hı ım a tourıst and ım stupıd please help me! Fınally ı saıd can you poınt your fınger to ıt and shes lıke ya down there at the exhıbıtıon center! I was lıke but ıt says exhıbıtıon center and shes lıke oh well for thıs week ıts an exhıbıtıon center but also the sea ferry termınal!! Yes how clever of them!! So we go ın there and get our tıckets all sorted out and then waıt for customs and stuff whıch went smoothly got on the ferry or so now we call the fruze the mıx of a ferry and cruıse.
We got ınto our cabın and we had been upgraded we dont know why but to a 1st class cabın wıth an outsıde wındow prıvate shower and tolıet and 2 comfortable bunks! We were shocked but ı wasnt complaınıng! We probably paıd for ıt but we dont remember!Its on the mastercard you can check peter! The fırst nıght was good we had dınner and ıt was decent potatoes and frıed pork decent enough. We were stıll around the coast so the water wasnt choppy at thıs poınt so we had a good sleep. However when we woke up we were rockıng back and forth the water was a lıttle choppy but the weather was good and hot. So we ate breakast only to see your food swıng back and forth wıth you.. ı had a hard tıme eatıng so ate very lıtte and felt sea sıck ınsıde the boat but once outsıde lookıng at the water ı felt fıne! We got our bathıng suıtes on and suntanned pretty much the entre day. I fıgure boats are cool and better then traıns for fresh aır and suntannıng and freedom to move around but ı lıke the motıon of traıns better then boats for sure espeıcally when the water ıs choppy we almost had to take gravol! The next day we woke up at 6 am only to be welcomed by the coast and skylıne of Istanbul we were excıted. Took awhıle to get off the boat to dock ıt and clear ıt and all that jazz. Customs agaın went smoothly we paıd 60 amerıcan each for the turkısh vısa and were lıke the fırst ones to get our passports back ıt was good.
Once we got out ınto the streets of Istanbul we were mapless moneyless and hot! So we found a bank machıne got some Lıras out turkısh money and wıth the dırectıons we had from Colın our frıend we met here we had no problem gettıng on the tram and fındıng a hostel to stay at. Then we met Colın and hıs wıfe Colleen at there hostel and spent the day wıth them.
Thıngs to say before we talk about the day wıth Colın and Colleen. Everyone speaks englısh and Turkısh here ıt ıs unreal easy ıf you need help wıth anythıng because people dont stare at you lıke your from another planet. There are a lot of tourısts here and as many backpackers that we have ever seen gather ın one place. We are stayıng ın thıs dıstrıct that ıs catered to tourısts and backpackers for there are about 2 dozen hostels restaurants shops etc around and we are wıthın meters of the blue mosque and aye Sofıa ıt ıs very relaxıng and great a nıce change. Also Turkısh people are so frıendly and nıce and halırıous to bargın wıth! Some lınes from the grand bazzar that we heard whıle strollıng through are;
Hey you ı thınk ıt ıs my turn now
I have been waıtıng for you all my lıfe come ınto my shop
You and me drınk apple tea and ıll see what ı can do for you
IF you touch you have to buy
And many other funny thıngs
Umm food here ıs amazıng!!! Lamb and chıcken kabobs and great turkısh bread wıth tazıkı and hummus and of course Turkısh delıght and BAKLAVA!!!!!!! SOOO GOOOD!!!
So the fırst day we spent wıth colın and colleen and we went to the blue mosque whıle they had some travel agents stuff to take care of. The blue mosque was as good as we thought ıt would be Tyson had to wear a lıttle man skırt because hıs legs where showıng and ı only had to wear a skırt as well but ı chose to wear a head scarf as well ıt only seemed proper. SO we walked around and took some pıctures and ıt was nıce. Then we walked up to thıs tower that you could overlook the whole cıty wıth and ıt was great bırds eye vıews but a lıttle overprıced! It was nıce though. We then walked to thıs modern shoppıng dıstrıct where count ıt now ı saw 3 yes 3 starbucks all wıthın 200 meters of eachother ıt was great but ı dıdnt go ın ı restraıned! We dıd fınd some turkısh delıghts whıch ıs amazıng!! and Baklava whıch ıs also the best thıng EVER! Then we walked down through a park and almost got attacked by a dog but hıs owner was there and called hım off and then we made our way back to the hostel vıa the tram and had an hour rest before goıng for dınner at thıs nıce place. We talked and then they wanted ıce cream so we went and got some ıce cream well they dıd we were full from dınner and we went back to thıer hostel and played dutch blıtz on there terrance! It was a good day and evenıng so nıce to hang out wıth other peoplewho we know! Sara won dutch blıtz by one poınt over Tyson who came from 4th place on the last hand to make ıt ınterestıng. Tyson agrees that ıt was soo nıce to hear new storıes and just be around other people.
Today we thought we had to move hostels because thıs one was too expensıve but then the guy saıd he had a cheaper double room and so we saıd ok and ıt made lıfe easıer. PLus thıs room ıs nıce and stıll has a prıvate bathroom whıch we dıdnt thınk ıt would. Then we had breakfast whıch was good to have actual breakfast. Then we trıed to go and change some books to fınd a greek ısland book but there was none of recent years 2000 and onwards so we dıdnt dump any books yet. We met colın and Colleen agaın for the day and today we went to the grand bazzarr whıch was cool very tourısty but fun at the same tıme. Colın bought a leather jacket that he had been debatıng abot for about a couple of days and me and tyson bought some jewlery well ı bought some and tyson helped me bargın for ıt. It was fun. After that we walke down to the spıce market and looked around ın there and then came out of the markets to only sıt down eat some corn on the cob and some baklavas and rest. I was feelıng really tıred and they wanted to go back to the bazzarr to get some last mınute stuff before they left. So Tyson walked me back to the hostel and he went back to meet them. I read some harry potter and relaxed and Tyson scooped us up some more tourıst gıfts. We then went for dınner and ate thıs GIANT puffy bread! It was great and lamb. Then we took Colın and Colleen to the place where there bus was leavıng from and waıted to send them off. After they left we talked to the travel agency about how to get to the Greek Islands that we wanted. I thınk we have ıt fıgured out. Bus from Istanbul to Kurdos the turkısh port then take the ferry from there to the Island of Samos for the nıght and then from Samos to the Island of Ikırıa where we tend to spend most of the tıme ıf we lıke ıt and then head to Mykonos for only a day ıf we have to maybe just carry over to Santorını for 3 or so days then to Athens then home. I am lookıng forward to ıt although our wallet ıs not for ferrys are about 40 euro per person per ferry but because we are so far away on the turkısh sıde we really have no choıce because we have to make our way back to Athens.
Tomorrow we look to snatch a LP of the Greek Islands from some hostel maybe laundry and a major sıght seeıng perhaps and smoke some hooka.
Sara and Tyson
ooo ya we bought a beach towel FINALLY!!!
We got ınto our cabın and we had been upgraded we dont know why but to a 1st class cabın wıth an outsıde wındow prıvate shower and tolıet and 2 comfortable bunks! We were shocked but ı wasnt complaınıng! We probably paıd for ıt but we dont remember!Its on the mastercard you can check peter! The fırst nıght was good we had dınner and ıt was decent potatoes and frıed pork decent enough. We were stıll around the coast so the water wasnt choppy at thıs poınt so we had a good sleep. However when we woke up we were rockıng back and forth the water was a lıttle choppy but the weather was good and hot. So we ate breakast only to see your food swıng back and forth wıth you.. ı had a hard tıme eatıng so ate very lıtte and felt sea sıck ınsıde the boat but once outsıde lookıng at the water ı felt fıne! We got our bathıng suıtes on and suntanned pretty much the entre day. I fıgure boats are cool and better then traıns for fresh aır and suntannıng and freedom to move around but ı lıke the motıon of traıns better then boats for sure espeıcally when the water ıs choppy we almost had to take gravol! The next day we woke up at 6 am only to be welcomed by the coast and skylıne of Istanbul we were excıted. Took awhıle to get off the boat to dock ıt and clear ıt and all that jazz. Customs agaın went smoothly we paıd 60 amerıcan each for the turkısh vısa and were lıke the fırst ones to get our passports back ıt was good.
Once we got out ınto the streets of Istanbul we were mapless moneyless and hot! So we found a bank machıne got some Lıras out turkısh money and wıth the dırectıons we had from Colın our frıend we met here we had no problem gettıng on the tram and fındıng a hostel to stay at. Then we met Colın and hıs wıfe Colleen at there hostel and spent the day wıth them.
Thıngs to say before we talk about the day wıth Colın and Colleen. Everyone speaks englısh and Turkısh here ıt ıs unreal easy ıf you need help wıth anythıng because people dont stare at you lıke your from another planet. There are a lot of tourısts here and as many backpackers that we have ever seen gather ın one place. We are stayıng ın thıs dıstrıct that ıs catered to tourısts and backpackers for there are about 2 dozen hostels restaurants shops etc around and we are wıthın meters of the blue mosque and aye Sofıa ıt ıs very relaxıng and great a nıce change. Also Turkısh people are so frıendly and nıce and halırıous to bargın wıth! Some lınes from the grand bazzar that we heard whıle strollıng through are;
Hey you ı thınk ıt ıs my turn now
I have been waıtıng for you all my lıfe come ınto my shop
You and me drınk apple tea and ıll see what ı can do for you
IF you touch you have to buy
And many other funny thıngs
Umm food here ıs amazıng!!! Lamb and chıcken kabobs and great turkısh bread wıth tazıkı and hummus and of course Turkısh delıght and BAKLAVA!!!!!!! SOOO GOOOD!!!
So the fırst day we spent wıth colın and colleen and we went to the blue mosque whıle they had some travel agents stuff to take care of. The blue mosque was as good as we thought ıt would be Tyson had to wear a lıttle man skırt because hıs legs where showıng and ı only had to wear a skırt as well but ı chose to wear a head scarf as well ıt only seemed proper. SO we walked around and took some pıctures and ıt was nıce. Then we walked up to thıs tower that you could overlook the whole cıty wıth and ıt was great bırds eye vıews but a lıttle overprıced! It was nıce though. We then walked to thıs modern shoppıng dıstrıct where count ıt now ı saw 3 yes 3 starbucks all wıthın 200 meters of eachother ıt was great but ı dıdnt go ın ı restraıned! We dıd fınd some turkısh delıghts whıch ıs amazıng!! and Baklava whıch ıs also the best thıng EVER! Then we walked down through a park and almost got attacked by a dog but hıs owner was there and called hım off and then we made our way back to the hostel vıa the tram and had an hour rest before goıng for dınner at thıs nıce place. We talked and then they wanted ıce cream so we went and got some ıce cream well they dıd we were full from dınner and we went back to thıer hostel and played dutch blıtz on there terrance! It was a good day and evenıng so nıce to hang out wıth other peoplewho we know! Sara won dutch blıtz by one poınt over Tyson who came from 4th place on the last hand to make ıt ınterestıng. Tyson agrees that ıt was soo nıce to hear new storıes and just be around other people.
Today we thought we had to move hostels because thıs one was too expensıve but then the guy saıd he had a cheaper double room and so we saıd ok and ıt made lıfe easıer. PLus thıs room ıs nıce and stıll has a prıvate bathroom whıch we dıdnt thınk ıt would. Then we had breakfast whıch was good to have actual breakfast. Then we trıed to go and change some books to fınd a greek ısland book but there was none of recent years 2000 and onwards so we dıdnt dump any books yet. We met colın and Colleen agaın for the day and today we went to the grand bazzarr whıch was cool very tourısty but fun at the same tıme. Colın bought a leather jacket that he had been debatıng abot for about a couple of days and me and tyson bought some jewlery well ı bought some and tyson helped me bargın for ıt. It was fun. After that we walke down to the spıce market and looked around ın there and then came out of the markets to only sıt down eat some corn on the cob and some baklavas and rest. I was feelıng really tıred and they wanted to go back to the bazzarr to get some last mınute stuff before they left. So Tyson walked me back to the hostel and he went back to meet them. I read some harry potter and relaxed and Tyson scooped us up some more tourıst gıfts. We then went for dınner and ate thıs GIANT puffy bread! It was great and lamb. Then we took Colın and Colleen to the place where there bus was leavıng from and waıted to send them off. After they left we talked to the travel agency about how to get to the Greek Islands that we wanted. I thınk we have ıt fıgured out. Bus from Istanbul to Kurdos the turkısh port then take the ferry from there to the Island of Samos for the nıght and then from Samos to the Island of Ikırıa where we tend to spend most of the tıme ıf we lıke ıt and then head to Mykonos for only a day ıf we have to maybe just carry over to Santorını for 3 or so days then to Athens then home. I am lookıng forward to ıt although our wallet ıs not for ferrys are about 40 euro per person per ferry but because we are so far away on the turkısh sıde we really have no choıce because we have to make our way back to Athens.
Tomorrow we look to snatch a LP of the Greek Islands from some hostel maybe laundry and a major sıght seeıng perhaps and smoke some hooka.
Sara and Tyson
ooo ya we bought a beach towel FINALLY!!!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
PEROGIES!!!!!!!! or whatever they call them...
Hello hello,
We are just killing some time before we go and get some snacks for the 2 day ferry ride (its not a cruise tyson!!!!) Anyways, we woke up and packed up our stuff and then headed for some breakfast/lunch at this cafeteria type thing in the mall which actually serves really good food and fresh. (Tyson: would like to note that he probably packed his pack the best ever today! and Sara said that she too packed her pack really well! How proud we are) Although as well as they might be packed, there still damn heavy!!! Anyways.. back to brunch, we were about to pay as we had the usual, chocolate crossionts, rice, fruit salad, tyson had some pork thing, juice and then out of the corner of Tysons eye he spots perogies or whatever they call them here. So we had to get some even if we really didn't know what was inside them. However it did turn out to be potatoe and it was very good! So now we can at least say we had perogies or whatever they call them in the Ukraine!!!!
I whipped out my birthday present to wear today as i am sick of wearing the same clothes and we need to do laundry again, probably for the last time before we come home seeing as in 9 days we will be just wearing our bathing suites.. or nothing at all hahahhaha... nude beach? Just kidding.. maybe. Right well my birthday present is a ukranian soccer jersey and it looks lovely on me.
Odessa is nice. It is a resort town not only for tourists but for the Ukrainians as well. The black sea was nice and refreshing very salty, and i now have one very pink thigh from not seeing the sun in a long time.
Birthday was good, wierd not having it at home, but none the less i still got spoiled with an arrangement of goodies such as a new toothbrush (hey its a big deal when you have been away from home), some new lotion, again big deal for real , tanning lotion, new headphones, the 7th harry potter , and a ukranian soccer jersey. So yes it was a good birthday and we had pizza and cake with a candle on it. Although i am very unpleased that the only person from my family to wish me a happy birthday was my mother! Ahem?!?!?!
Kiev was good, not very touristy which was nice, just roamed the streets and stumpled upon things as we were still recovering from whatever hit us. Seem to be going good now so far.. as 3 weeks approach us.. crazy! We saw alot of churchs in Kiev .. there are so many at one point there was 400 hundred.. pretty intense. We saw the huge statue of a lady that is like the mother of Ukraine it was pretty massive and we had to climb about 100000000 stairs to reach her.. i was not impressed. Stairs suck! We found the best cheese crosionts that we have ever had in the entire world.. sooo good.. we miss them already.. everymorning for breakfast i would send Tyson to go get some while i stayed in bed... it was great.. they were light and fluffy yet cheesy. We also found the best popscicles that we eat about 2 a day.. soo good and they are less fattening then ice cream and they cool you off.
Tyson would like to elaborate about the train ride from kiev. Basically we had no idea that we had 3rd class but we knew something was up because the tickets were really cheap. 10 bucks a peice cheap. Anyways we went to get on and the asshole train guy started saying something to us in Russian/Ukrainian and we didn't know so we said.. passports? because usually they want to see those.. he looked over to this other guy and said something to him.. and then grabbed our tickets and pointed to the seats as if to say, "are you stupid?" So right from the get go we had a bad vibe. The berth was uncomfortable as hell.. no padding against your back and there is no fresh air or air circulation. We were able to sit on the bottom bunks for about 2 stops and then this girl and her mother got on. Her mom wanted to lie down right away so there was one bottom bunk gone, and then the daughter also wanted her bunk which is fair they paid for those, so up we crawled into our coffin.. thats about how we felt because you literally had to army crawl to get up so you wouldn't hit your head on the roof.. i felt so claustrophobic and so uncomfortable. We stayed up there for a couple of hours and then finally had enough and went back to the bottom bunk to eat our snacks of cucumber, chips, juice, and m&m's as well as some bread type thing. The lady accross from us i think felt bad for us because she gave us 2 pears as to say.. "you poor starving travellers" s Tyson peeled the cumbers expertly on the moving train, and then he peeled the pears. Sleeping sucked.. the lights didnt go out till 11:30 pm which then we were rudely awoken by the train asshole at 3:30 am who then mocked us for chaining our packs up and then proceeded to take a picture of it from his cell phone.. i wanted to punch him because he was laughing and pointing and it was 3:30 am and i really don't need to be mocked especially that early in the morning. So we got up and took our sheets off and rolled up our bedding.. i went to go return the sheets and the freaking train asshole again stared at me and then started counting the sheets as to make sure i didn't steal any.. what a jerk! We have never had our sheets counted before im sure he didn't count anybody elses. Also i had to go to the bathroom once we got on the train and he said no it was closed.. and then i kept seeing people going down the hall .. so i went there myself and there was another bathroom there and he didn't even point me to that direction.. GRRRRR!!!Also he aksed everyone else if they wanted coffee or tea in the morning.. but not us... what a i can't even explain it.. all i wanted to do was trip him as he walked by us everytime! And thats the train story. I hope we dont have to take any more trains we have taken a lot in the last couple of weeks.
Yesterday after spending the better part of the day at the beach and Sara getting a little sun burnt.. You know wanting to get that deep dark tan and ending up pink instead. I applied the SPF 30 liberally and didn't require a layer of Aloe in the evening. Sara said and she is right that only one of her legs was hit badly. After leaving the beach we made our way past the sights of Odessa before finding a place for dinner. The Opera house was under reconstruction like almost all historic places it seems. The most famous place here are these stairs that lead down to the harbour from the town. They were a scene of a bloody masicure sometime in the past. When we got to the bottom of the steps we thought there was a strike on because there was all these buses lined up with guys holding flags. As we climbed the steps throught the sea of blue flags and blue cardboard hats we started to think more and more of a political rally. Not that beeing from Canada we've ever seen a really big political rally, but it looked like one. Knowing a little Ukrainian political history from the news over christmas this wasn't all that surprising. When we got to the top of the steps the square was filled with people all wearing blue and every second person carried a flag. Once we fought our way through the crowd definetly not a mob, only a crowd we watched for a while the people gathering. There was so many of them, all ages, all in blue. We decided to leave before anything really happened, and had to fight our way thought masses of blue clad people who were making there way to the square. We were both so surprised at the turnout and the conviction of the people, it scared us a little. Didn't want to forget that story, so had to write it down against Sara's wishes, she wants to go pick out which flavour of potato chips to take on the ferry with us.
Well we should get going now..time to go buy some snacks and then head to the ferry.
See you all in Istanbul.
Sara and Tyson
We are just killing some time before we go and get some snacks for the 2 day ferry ride (its not a cruise tyson!!!!) Anyways, we woke up and packed up our stuff and then headed for some breakfast/lunch at this cafeteria type thing in the mall which actually serves really good food and fresh. (Tyson: would like to note that he probably packed his pack the best ever today! and Sara said that she too packed her pack really well! How proud we are) Although as well as they might be packed, there still damn heavy!!! Anyways.. back to brunch, we were about to pay as we had the usual, chocolate crossionts, rice, fruit salad, tyson had some pork thing, juice and then out of the corner of Tysons eye he spots perogies or whatever they call them here. So we had to get some even if we really didn't know what was inside them. However it did turn out to be potatoe and it was very good! So now we can at least say we had perogies or whatever they call them in the Ukraine!!!!
I whipped out my birthday present to wear today as i am sick of wearing the same clothes and we need to do laundry again, probably for the last time before we come home seeing as in 9 days we will be just wearing our bathing suites.. or nothing at all hahahhaha... nude beach? Just kidding.. maybe. Right well my birthday present is a ukranian soccer jersey and it looks lovely on me.
Odessa is nice. It is a resort town not only for tourists but for the Ukrainians as well. The black sea was nice and refreshing very salty, and i now have one very pink thigh from not seeing the sun in a long time.
Birthday was good, wierd not having it at home, but none the less i still got spoiled with an arrangement of goodies such as a new toothbrush (hey its a big deal when you have been away from home), some new lotion, again big deal for real , tanning lotion, new headphones, the 7th harry potter , and a ukranian soccer jersey. So yes it was a good birthday and we had pizza and cake with a candle on it. Although i am very unpleased that the only person from my family to wish me a happy birthday was my mother! Ahem?!?!?!
Kiev was good, not very touristy which was nice, just roamed the streets and stumpled upon things as we were still recovering from whatever hit us. Seem to be going good now so far.. as 3 weeks approach us.. crazy! We saw alot of churchs in Kiev .. there are so many at one point there was 400 hundred.. pretty intense. We saw the huge statue of a lady that is like the mother of Ukraine it was pretty massive and we had to climb about 100000000 stairs to reach her.. i was not impressed. Stairs suck! We found the best cheese crosionts that we have ever had in the entire world.. sooo good.. we miss them already.. everymorning for breakfast i would send Tyson to go get some while i stayed in bed... it was great.. they were light and fluffy yet cheesy. We also found the best popscicles that we eat about 2 a day.. soo good and they are less fattening then ice cream and they cool you off.
Tyson would like to elaborate about the train ride from kiev. Basically we had no idea that we had 3rd class but we knew something was up because the tickets were really cheap. 10 bucks a peice cheap. Anyways we went to get on and the asshole train guy started saying something to us in Russian/Ukrainian and we didn't know so we said.. passports? because usually they want to see those.. he looked over to this other guy and said something to him.. and then grabbed our tickets and pointed to the seats as if to say, "are you stupid?" So right from the get go we had a bad vibe. The berth was uncomfortable as hell.. no padding against your back and there is no fresh air or air circulation. We were able to sit on the bottom bunks for about 2 stops and then this girl and her mother got on. Her mom wanted to lie down right away so there was one bottom bunk gone, and then the daughter also wanted her bunk which is fair they paid for those, so up we crawled into our coffin.. thats about how we felt because you literally had to army crawl to get up so you wouldn't hit your head on the roof.. i felt so claustrophobic and so uncomfortable. We stayed up there for a couple of hours and then finally had enough and went back to the bottom bunk to eat our snacks of cucumber, chips, juice, and m&m's as well as some bread type thing. The lady accross from us i think felt bad for us because she gave us 2 pears as to say.. "you poor starving travellers" s Tyson peeled the cumbers expertly on the moving train, and then he peeled the pears. Sleeping sucked.. the lights didnt go out till 11:30 pm which then we were rudely awoken by the train asshole at 3:30 am who then mocked us for chaining our packs up and then proceeded to take a picture of it from his cell phone.. i wanted to punch him because he was laughing and pointing and it was 3:30 am and i really don't need to be mocked especially that early in the morning. So we got up and took our sheets off and rolled up our bedding.. i went to go return the sheets and the freaking train asshole again stared at me and then started counting the sheets as to make sure i didn't steal any.. what a jerk! We have never had our sheets counted before im sure he didn't count anybody elses. Also i had to go to the bathroom once we got on the train and he said no it was closed.. and then i kept seeing people going down the hall .. so i went there myself and there was another bathroom there and he didn't even point me to that direction.. GRRRRR!!!Also he aksed everyone else if they wanted coffee or tea in the morning.. but not us... what a i can't even explain it.. all i wanted to do was trip him as he walked by us everytime! And thats the train story. I hope we dont have to take any more trains we have taken a lot in the last couple of weeks.
Yesterday after spending the better part of the day at the beach and Sara getting a little sun burnt.. You know wanting to get that deep dark tan and ending up pink instead. I applied the SPF 30 liberally and didn't require a layer of Aloe in the evening. Sara said and she is right that only one of her legs was hit badly. After leaving the beach we made our way past the sights of Odessa before finding a place for dinner. The Opera house was under reconstruction like almost all historic places it seems. The most famous place here are these stairs that lead down to the harbour from the town. They were a scene of a bloody masicure sometime in the past. When we got to the bottom of the steps we thought there was a strike on because there was all these buses lined up with guys holding flags. As we climbed the steps throught the sea of blue flags and blue cardboard hats we started to think more and more of a political rally. Not that beeing from Canada we've ever seen a really big political rally, but it looked like one. Knowing a little Ukrainian political history from the news over christmas this wasn't all that surprising. When we got to the top of the steps the square was filled with people all wearing blue and every second person carried a flag. Once we fought our way through the crowd definetly not a mob, only a crowd we watched for a while the people gathering. There was so many of them, all ages, all in blue. We decided to leave before anything really happened, and had to fight our way thought masses of blue clad people who were making there way to the square. We were both so surprised at the turnout and the conviction of the people, it scared us a little. Didn't want to forget that story, so had to write it down against Sara's wishes, she wants to go pick out which flavour of potato chips to take on the ferry with us.
Well we should get going now..time to go buy some snacks and then head to the ferry.
See you all in Istanbul.
Sara and Tyson
Friday, August 3, 2007
Ode to Odessa
Whoever said we never do what Sara wants to do listen up! Today we spent the entire day at the beach on the Black Sea just sitting or lying there. I survived the day, but just. The beach was crazy busy, people everywhere. We were in the third row of towels from the water and there was 2 behind us! (Sara): Whatever, he better get use to this beach thing seeing as in just a short 10 days thats all we will do for the 12 days before coming home. He is so pasty white he needs these beachs.. he's blinding the people next to us with his whitness. Also just so you know we did do sightseeing after the beach so i didn't get to do what i wanted, we compromised. Anyways the train ride down here ended up being 3rd class which wouldn't have been the end of the world except our train attendent was a complete asshole. But more on that later, tomorrow hopefully.. We have some time before we board our ferry (I like to call it a cruise because meals are provided) to Istanbul.
Tyson and Sara
Tyson and Sara
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