1. Geographically, Turkey is the link between Asia and Europe. Its also a Muslim but non Arab country. From the airport the metro was clean and easy to understand. The first interaction with a Turk was sour: the metro police showed us how to buy tickets but then didnt give us all our change, it was only a few dollars but the princible was angering. While this left a bad first impression, everyone else we talked to that night was very nice and gave us directions while we were looking for our hostel. Walking in the sultanamet area at night felt like being in Disney Land after it closed. Very clean, tall towers on a magical oversized domed mosque/church/castle, closed food stands....It took a while but I saw the red Sultan Hostel sign from down the block and was asleep around 2am.
2. The complimentry breakfast was great. Musli, greek yogurt, tomatos cucumbers and tea. Breakfast aside, it would hard to be a vegetarian here. The hostel had a awesome rooftop patio. Enrolled in some classes for next fall. Saw the main atractions the Hag Sophia and Blue Mosque. The Hag Sophia was a church that the muslims conquered, so there would be big Islam symbols hung over the paintings of the apostels on the walls. It was overcast which was a nice change from the dry heat I've been used to. Also not the insane traffic/drivers honking all the time nor the aggressive street merchants. There is a Islam and Oriental flare but it defintelty feels like a European county. A beer by the boshphorus and dinner. I like Turkey.
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