“How can I take your money?”

Day 2: 

Update #1: After a solid 9 hours of sleep we are waking up at 8 and getting ready for the day! Before we depart for the day we are headed up to get some breakfast. The spread is amazing!! There are so many options, and a majority of them were not typical morning food. For example, I grabbed some chicken nuggets, rice, pickles, and multiple different potato/corn/cabbage dishes. Overall the food was amazing!! Definitely the largest breakfast spread we have seen on our trips. 

Update #2: First stop for the day, the pharmacy. We need to grab the essentials that were within the lost luggage. Mom is hoping that we will get reimbursed because of our insurance or something. So hopefully that is the case. We have been searching long and hard for a flat iron as well, which I am convinced just doesn’t exist here. (Update: it does and we found one some how!!) 

Update #3: We just arrived at Hagia Sophia it is beautiful!! We had to buy head coverings to enter as well as removing our shoes due to religious reasons. The inside architecture is amazing, especially for being built so long ago. It is incredible the amount of detail that you can see in the stone and the mosaics. Unfortunately we are not able to go upstairs due to renovations. I am slowly getting a little grossed out about the amount of feet that are on the same carpet as my feet. I don’t have socks on and the more I think about it the more gross it gets. Riley isn’t making it any better by continually reminding me how gross some peoples feet can be. I cannot wait to shower tonight. 

Update #4: Nap time!! This wasn’t an intentional nap time but we are headed home to “refresh” is the word my dad used. Which means I am taking a nap! I am exhausted. I am not sure if the time zone caught up to me or what but I am definitely feeling the effects of a busy day of walking thus far. 

Update #5: After our “refresh” we are now headed to the bazaar. Which is essentially a giant shopping mall, and I mean giant. Upon arrival we are flooded with thousands and thousands of people around us, as well as thousands and thousands of shops. They sell everything here. They have jewelry, shoes, purses, coats, sweatshirt, jeans, tee shirts, trinkets, and even a small antique mall. It is so cool! It is the most overwhelming as well a mentally stimulating situation. There are many people calling out our names saying “please please miss come (pointing towards their shop)” or “come in come in, looking is free!” There was even one guy as straightforward as possible simply asking “how can I take your money?” Overall an amazing experience, reminded me of the time in China where we explored the amazing malls filled with fake goods. 

Update #6: Our final stop for the day is the tower Glata which has the most beautiful viewing of the city at the top. Similar to the space needle except older (a lot older) and cobblestone. In order to get to this tower however we need to take the metro across the water. Upon arriving across the water we found the way to the tower was up a steep cobblestone road. Which didn’t sound great to the blistering feet we all had. Nevertheless, we climbed to the top. Upon arriving at the tower we believed that we were to have to climb stairs to the top. Which to my relief (if not anyone else’s) we found was untrue as the only was up was an elevator! Now sitting at the top of the tower and overlooking the whole city is beautiful! I can see everything!! 

Update #7: Adjacent the tower was a little street that has beautiful colorful buildings, vines, and lights. Besides the architecture itself there are a least a dozen little cafes with desserts, coffee, and tea. We picked out a restaurant and enjoyed some traditional Turkish food. After that we made our way back down the hill and across the water on the metro back to our hotel, but first stopping to get meringues at one of the little cafes of course! Overall Turkey has been amazing so far. It is a beautiful country, and full of European influence which is seen in the streets, buildings, and landscaping. I cannot wait to continue exploring this country! 

Update #7: Delta may have located out luggage…? Not sure yet but it seems they may have found it. Hopefully it gets here before we leave for our next location though!