CALIFORNIA GIRLS

we are undeniable! HEY! I am back and loving the use of exclamation marks!!! I look forward to sharing all the details of my trip with you in person as well as having new and exciting adventures in CALIFORNIA!

Last day in Istanbul

Hey you guys! Senol, his brother, Tumay (his girlfriend) and I went out to dinner to for me to say good bye to the city. I got a little bit teary while we crossed the bridge from the European to the Asian side. As we crossed, U2 came on the radio and Bono was singing about one Love and one Blood which is a good sentiment to have as I leave. Not all of my times here were fun and many were lonely but they were all felt.
Everyday seemed to test my resilience. Some left me feeling vulnerable like when I depended on Senol during my first trip to Ist to lead me to board the correct bus and get off appropriatly. And then I felt strong when a cab driver and I laughed the entire way home because he had no idea where I was staying and I only had slightly more insight...and it was dark. Being on my own in Greece helped me to experience solitude but also to feel our human interdependence. I was humbled to learn about the existance of entire civilizations which included infrastructure, government and religion in 2000 BC and then refreshed by my private air condition. At the same time, everyday I missed you guys and wished that you were here in person so I learned to keep you all in my mind. I hope that you were able to feel it too. I am thankful for the conversations that I had with Abby when I felt stuck and during all of my other moods, I have depended on you a lot during this trip.  I am thankful for talking with my parents and hearing about all of their adventures and helping me to feel connected to my family. You guys help to bring me balance regardless of from which end of the spectrum I start. Thank you Liz and David for the comedy and heart felt comments, you kept me laughing or crying and thank you to my loving friends you girls rock!

I am getting on the plane tomorrow for Boston and then I'll be in LA on Tuesday. I'll see you guys soon a look forward to more journey...domestically for a while. Come to Santa Cruz

Galata Tower

Hey you all! Today I had my last celebratory solo tourist adventure in Istanbul. I went to the top of the Galata tower which has one of the best 360 views of the city. It was amazing and I'm glad that I did it today. Here are some pics
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAKENNA!

a few pics

Senol let me borrow his spare camera today so here are two pictures of the view from my dinner restaurant. You will see the Blue Mosque and the sea

Belly Dansah

HEY! I found them, they do exist in Istanbul but only at tourist shows. Tonight I went to a cultural dance show with tradional folk dancing, belly dancing and an orchestra. It was very high energy, my favorite dance was a solo belly dancer in blacklight with florescent orange and yellow costume and markings. It was so magestic looking. I met some other women travellers about 65 and one maybe 80 who told me all about her recent fall on the cobblestones around Dolmabache palace. un ohh. She looked ok though. The other woman was from Portland and only in Ist for a few days and then off to cruise the greek Islands, she is going to love it. We talked about Judaism, Chrisianity and Islam. I like meeting people with very open perspectives. Yesterday I had a lazyish day, after I went to Taxim to buy Jack Keroac's 'On the Road' I came back to read and Senol's cousins were here so I really ended up cooking and watching a movie. Well I have one long weekend left here in the city and I am going to spend it avoiding the old diesel busses. Only the modern busses that announce the stops from now on!!! I love you all! Ciao
RTK

Drifter

That was what I was called yesterday and it didn't bother me one bit. I met three East Coasters at different periods in their trips through Istanbul at a cooking class put on by the Sarnic Hotel. It was a wonderful day despite costing me twice what I had planned on. But I guess sometimes that happens and it was totally worth it! The couple lived on the Cape and the woman lived in Rhode Island, they were all about my parents age which made me feel very happy. The chef from Sarnic was wonderful and funny and he told us that we should cook according to color not to measurement which is a neat perspective for life. I would love to reproduce the recipes but they involve some heavy frying...is anyone volunteering a kitchen?
So we made some spicy red lentil soup, auberginesw with onion and tomoato, cheese pastries, vine leaves stuffed with meat, and stuffed figs with walnut. They were all wonderful dishes and I am so glad to have had the experience. Today I am heading over to the Galata tower to see the view and to pick up a new book. I hear they have an evening show there and I would love to take Senol to see it before I leave. I need to find a nice host gift but am not sure what to pick.
see you soon and I love you all
love
rtk

Lazy Monday

No the book was not in Turkish, it was called "the Help" about jim crow days in Missisppi and white women with the black maids that work for them. It was a very good book and I read it in two and a half days, if you have time to sit down and indulge in a 450p. book sometime soon I highly recommmend it.
Anyhow today I read the book and then took a walk in the neighborhood to try to find the beach. I found the beach but couldn't get there because it was on the other side of the train tracks. I am sure that I could have found a way over but I just wanted to get home. It was that kind of day. I am expecting my period really soon which makes me have wonderfully colorful mood swings and I miss my CA culture. Soon enough. I am leaving for Boston in seven days (really six and a half but who is counting)