Ephesus, Istanbul Turkey 10,6-8
		Finally I have gotten away from the traffic, the crowds and the credit cards of San Jose to put some of my last shots up.  Here come 4 pages and 2 weeks worth of Turkey.  Far and away, this was the most eye-opening, interesting, nicest, and tiring place that I went to. I highly recommend everyone spending some time there before it gets too discovered
		So my first morning in Turkey after jumping of the 2 hour boat ride from Greece and I find that my hotel room isn't ready yet.  No worries I say, I'll go to Ephesus (he says naively).  So the very nice hotel manager leads me outside, a minibus (dolmus) pulls up, the door opens and he pushes me in. Mind you I have no Turkish money, have no idea where I am going and have no idea what a dolmus is.  But I do make it eventually probably the most famous ruins in Turkey, Ephesus. This is a library built by the Romans around 3000 years ago.					So the ruins are cool, amazing what can be built with enough time, money and people but for me getting to Ephesus was entertaining.  Turkey's trains are not great so they have a very efficient minibus (dolmus,here) and big bus system.  Basically you can get anywhere in Turkey on a bus for about $2 an hour, very cheap.  These dolmus drivers are amazing, they speak multiple languages, drive, honk, look for people and change money all at the same time.  While in the dolmus you pass your money up through all the people to the driver.  I mean everyone in the dolmus helps get the money to the driver.  Do you think in the states if I asked the guy to pass my dollar bill to the front of the bus, that it would ever make it?
		Isn't this a cute shot, a nice muslim lady with her cute dog going to Istanbul, 11 hours away.  The bus stations, otogars, are huge and very similar to airports here in configuration, you can shop, eat, sleep in the bus station.  Other than the room and bus touts, everyone, yes everyone in Turkey is nice.  In fact they were so nice that it took me a few days, maybe weeks to lose my immediate suspicion of the people.  I mean you walk down the street (except in Istanbul) and people give you food and want to say hi and shake your hand, and they want nothing in return.  Most, if not all of my stereotypes of Turkey went right out the window on this trip.
							This is inside the blue mosque in Istanbul, this building is stunning and they pray here 4 times a day, at daybreak, noon, sunset and the evening always facing Mecca.  A mosque is a very zen place, carpets on the floor, very clean and it feels very safe and holy inside.  Outside the doors there are the standard aggressive tourist catchers trying to sell everything.  They say Istanbul is where the east meets the west and the sad thing is that they sure did pick up a good dose of capitalism from us westerners.
		Here is probably the most famous mosque in Turkey built right across from the once Christian church turned mosque Aya Sofia.  This is a shot taken from the very affordable Internet cafe down the street.  Its important to note that here in Turkey, the church and state are very closely tied, prayer comes 4 times a day across the megaphones but life continues to move.  After a few days you become very used to it, and almost crave it a little because the melodic voice is almost soothing.
							Right across from the Blue mosque is Aya sofia built around 1000 years ago as a Christian church and then turned into a mosque around 1423 when Constantinople was overthrown as the capital of the Christian world and became a Muslim city named Istanbul.  The dome was the largest until Brunelleschi built his dome in Florence 500 years later.
							One, maybe the only problem (yes I am biased) with turkey is that they have the same water/food issues as does Mexico so you need to be a little careful with what you eat and drink.  Well when someone is offering you this great looking mixed kebab, all you can eat bread, a pepsi, water and offers you free tea for about $3, you take the risk and this meal was awesome!  The spices and the slow roasting rule.  This was outside the Grand Bazaar which, if you have ever been on the Sewer Tour in San Luis Obispo feels the same but there are tons of people, booths, carpets, jewlery, and anything you can imagine inside.  Definately the biggest indoor market I have ever seen.
		Inside Aya Sofia, they have removed much of the paint and plater that covered the Christian symbols to reveal old reliefs.  This one is interesting because the dude on the left (of the mosaic) was the queen's third hubby.  Everytime she killed, eeerrr, divorced one she would have the mosaic redone to reflect her new spouse.  I'm not sure if I'd want my picture up there.