And then the words came to me: "Gel pisi, pisi, pisi"

Yesterday I spent the entire day avoiding all contact with the outside world while reading books.

Just kidding. Our protagonists would never do such a thing.

We began the day with similar fare to what I was greeted with my first morning in Istanbul (fried egg with tomato and pepper, sliced cucumbers, cheeses, and peaches, some tea, milk, and figs). I am unsure what I shall do upon returning to Boston, but starving is a distinct possibility (Jeremy said he could not bring himself to eat for two days after returning from his first trip, as all the foods at the WPI campus center were entirely unappealing. Combine this with my former habit of forgetting to eat for a day or so at a time, and it does not bode well).

We took some time exploring antique shops in the morning. I believe you are familiar with at least one movie where a shopkeep tends a shadowy, cramped room filled floor to ceiling with aged, mysterious components. This is exactly like that.

Not able to be seen in this photo: dust, and the musty smell of history.

We also visited a rooftop cafe before heading out to the European side. It is now my favorite cafe.

(Although, that other place with the manti is still amazing... I wish I had more time to solve this contention, but alas)

Ignore that horizon. That window cleaner in the lower left is the real show stealer.

I fear I may be getting used to these views.

I would at this point like to digress for just one moment. There is an extremely important referendum about to go down in Turkey, about whether the government should have the ability to change the constitution. Underneath this face, however, seems a vote to determine the overall direction of Turkey's view towards secularism and the rest of the world. Most people I have met, especially in Istanbul, will be voting no (hayir) to this amendment, and it seems that if Turkey wishes to stand a chance of joining the EU within the decade, this is the path to take. However, the less populous eastern parts of Turkey appear to support a yes vote (evet), which would allow the current leading political party to essentially consolidate the powers of executive, military, and judicial branches in the country.

The vote is Sunday, and we saw much activity promoting the Hayir vote at the ferry docks.

These are everywhere now.

Political activists are out in full force. I have seen a number of different groups here, including Greenpeace. All seem to be focused on the vote this coming weekend for now.

I will be quite interested to discover the result of the vote before I leave.

We boarded the ferry to Europe in order to be terrible tourists again.

I'M ON A BOA- oh, sorry, you've heard that one? I'll be quiet, then.

(I like boats)

HELLO AGAIN EUROPE

We went to tourist central. It's filled with awesome places, but also tourists. Kind of a mixed bag, if you ask me (I'll pretend you did just earlier, to make this comment appear warranted).

This is one of the least impressive structures in this area. I know. I know.

We then proceeded to tour some little tourist attraction that often gets overlooked, or something. I think it's called the AyaSofya? The Hagia Sophia? I'm sure it's not that important.

This sucker, right here.

We found this near the fountain outside the AyaSofya. I wasn't aware they had bears in Istanbul.

Jeremy stole my camera and forced us to take typical touristy pictures. It was terrible.

The entrance, once one gets past the ticket booths.

STOP TALKING GUYS YOU ARE IN AN OLD IMPRESSIVE BUILDING

Hey, remember when I said the Blue Mosque was huge? Nevermind that.

I have about a gigabyte of photos stored just from this building. I'll try not to show too many.

HUGE

The architecture of the Ayasofya is made up to be from its time from the Byzantine Empire.

Raise the roof.

The stonework and craftsmanship in everything here is a work of beauty.

This is on the upper floor. It is just as gigantic.

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL ARM

All the views from the upstairs windows show this exact image at all times. EVERY ONE.

When I observe people beneath me taking photos looking up, I often pose in some fashion. I hope that someone with a super-high-resolution camera managed to get a few of these, so that when they zoom in to the photo for touchups they can see my face and forever love that stranger with the blue hair.

I would like a moment to showcase a photography project I am working on: Awkward pictures of Jeremy.

You look so pleased to see me, Jeremy!

Doop-de-doop!

NOT CREEPY AT ALL.

And now, back to our normal exhibition.

They only laugh to keep from crying, you know. Leaving the Ayasofya does that.

HEY BIRD-WATCHING FRIEND, THESE ARE TURKEY BIRDS! (I though you should know)

Let's just move on now.

We next scaled the Galato tower, which has the best views of Istanbul ever.

This sucker right here. Unfortunately we had to use an elevator to get to the top. Lame.

Beautiful.

Gorgeous.

Fantasti-AGHHH Jeremy stop stealing the camera! My face was not meant to be seen by mortal eyes!

(is this revenge for earlier? (yes))

Totally not faked. At all.

After this involved climb, we went to have the best Baklava that has ever existed in the history of existance.

Sorry I forgot to take a picture before we started. It was just so goo-OM NOM NOM NOM

(It was so rich, we had difficulty finishing it all. Sonia bowed out early. She was the smart one)

Finally, some pictures slightly after sunset as we walked back to the ferry:

An easy building to miss, I know.

Twinkle, twinkle, little planet.

We then hit the bars with friends, and stayed up way too late. Today, we should be visiting some islands on the Sea of Marmara. It will be a good way to pretend to celebrate Ramadan being over.

Goodbye, internet!

-Hyde