Another summer in Istanbul, but now, we're here for two weeks not only two days! Today has been crazy and weird. but weird is good, right? We arrived here at six in the morning, then came directly to the hotel, checked-in, ate everything at the breakfast buffet, and slept until 4:30 pm.
I was interrupted by some, claps. Yes, some people were shouting and clapping in the street. The first thing that came to my mind was: a protest. -don't blame me, I guess that I'm influenced by the Arabic Spring- So, I called the reception desk and asked about that craziness that was going on outside. They told me that everything was fine, and that those people were...celebrating. Ten minutes later, I heard a loud, noisy song, and I realized that those people will never stop! I ignored them, and like any human in this world, went back to sleep.
As usual, I woke up on the sound of a knock on the door. I'm the little sis, that why I was the one who had to get up and open the door while my sisters stayed asleep and were lost in the world of dreams. I opened it and saw my brothers, looking fresh, and smelling like the famous Tom Ford perfume. -I've always knew that they stole my dad's-
''So, when will you go out?!". I looked at my watch and realized that I slept for nine hours, I didn't make any expression, left the door open, and jumped on my bed.
After two hours of laziness, we were finally ready to go out! We went to explore the our street which is located in the heart of Taksim, then came back to the hotel and went to a further place with our parents who stayed asleep more than we did! -we're not a lazy family, but that was jetlag...I swear- We went to a typical Turkish restaurant -that doesn't sell Kebab- and started eating furiously again! I only ordered two plates of mashed potatoes, because it's the most delicious mashed thing that I've ever had in my life! And then I ordered two glasses of Turkish tea.
The craziness started when I went to the first floor of the restaurant to get more mashed potatoes and heard some noise... My mom's nightmare was alive! I saw a lot of police men, and maybe a hundred protestors. My eyes started to tear immediately, and I started to cough because of the gas that was spreading in the streets. I felt, excited! Finally! Something to be excited about! We left the restaurant and started the adventure. I closed my nose was a tissue, and hoped that my eyes won't tear more. Again, people were running. And we ran with them, and thank god that no one was crushed, and entered a pastries shop immediately. There was an old lady who was making some delicious cheese pastries. We sat there and ordered some, with more Turkish tea and coffee! We left the store after an hour, and started walking again. We tried to be clever, and find a way out of that mess, and of course the gas that was giving me a hard time. But, the police stopped us and said that it's too dangerous to take a short cut, because that's where all of the drama is happens. So, a barber invited us for a little chat, then we went out.
As we were walking I saw some police men and insisted that I take a picture with them. I felt like a real boss by standing between those two handsome Turkish men, and by wearing their helmet that was a little bit stinky, but I didn't care!
We arrived to the hotel at 12 am after a very long walk that lasted for two hours using some new short cuts. I didn't want to sit, that's why we left the hotel room to eat the famous falafel, from the Falafel House restaurant. I went inside to meet the owners: Abo Muhammad and his son Yusuf. they're Palestinian, and were very, very, very nice, and their Falafel is probably the BEST falafel that I've ever had in my life. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating, because it had a very unique flavor that melted in my mouth. The Humus was delicious too, and it was a very magical texture to it. We finished eating at 1 am, and then met our parents at a near Baklava shop, and we ordered some, with Turkish delights, and more Turkish tea and coffee. Then the cutest little boy passed by our table, and my parents had a little talk with his parents that lasted until 2 am. They were an amazing Tunisian couple, and the boy's name was Fahad, just like my brother, grandpa, and most of my cousins.
Mom and dad and the boys went back to the hotel, while we went back to the Falafel House and Abo Muhammad gave us a little historic flashback about Turkey, and then expanded to the whole world.
It was 3 am when I noticed my watch, I told my sisters that we had to leave because it was very late to be outside. We thanked Abo Muhammad, but were interrupted by a group of men who know my cousins, they asked us to say hi to them, and pass by their store soon. We promised them, and promised Abo Muhammad that we'll come back for more Falafel and Humus, and maybe, another historic flashback.
Goodnight!
August 4th, 2013
3:30 am
Istanbul 2013
I was interrupted by some, claps. Yes, some people were shouting and clapping in the street. The first thing that came to my mind was: a protest. -don't blame me, I guess that I'm influenced by the Arabic Spring- So, I called the reception desk and asked about that craziness that was going on outside. They told me that everything was fine, and that those people were...celebrating. Ten minutes later, I heard a loud, noisy song, and I realized that those people will never stop! I ignored them, and like any human in this world, went back to sleep.
As usual, I woke up on the sound of a knock on the door. I'm the little sis, that why I was the one who had to get up and open the door while my sisters stayed asleep and were lost in the world of dreams. I opened it and saw my brothers, looking fresh, and smelling like the famous Tom Ford perfume. -I've always knew that they stole my dad's-
''So, when will you go out?!". I looked at my watch and realized that I slept for nine hours, I didn't make any expression, left the door open, and jumped on my bed.
After two hours of laziness, we were finally ready to go out! We went to explore the our street which is located in the heart of Taksim, then came back to the hotel and went to a further place with our parents who stayed asleep more than we did! -we're not a lazy family, but that was jetlag...I swear- We went to a typical Turkish restaurant -that doesn't sell Kebab- and started eating furiously again! I only ordered two plates of mashed potatoes, because it's the most delicious mashed thing that I've ever had in my life! And then I ordered two glasses of Turkish tea.
The craziness started when I went to the first floor of the restaurant to get more mashed potatoes and heard some noise... My mom's nightmare was alive! I saw a lot of police men, and maybe a hundred protestors. My eyes started to tear immediately, and I started to cough because of the gas that was spreading in the streets. I felt, excited! Finally! Something to be excited about! We left the restaurant and started the adventure. I closed my nose was a tissue, and hoped that my eyes won't tear more. Again, people were running. And we ran with them, and thank god that no one was crushed, and entered a pastries shop immediately. There was an old lady who was making some delicious cheese pastries. We sat there and ordered some, with more Turkish tea and coffee! We left the store after an hour, and started walking again. We tried to be clever, and find a way out of that mess, and of course the gas that was giving me a hard time. But, the police stopped us and said that it's too dangerous to take a short cut, because that's where all of the drama is happens. So, a barber invited us for a little chat, then we went out.
As we were walking I saw some police men and insisted that I take a picture with them. I felt like a real boss by standing between those two handsome Turkish men, and by wearing their helmet that was a little bit stinky, but I didn't care!
We arrived to the hotel at 12 am after a very long walk that lasted for two hours using some new short cuts. I didn't want to sit, that's why we left the hotel room to eat the famous falafel, from the Falafel House restaurant. I went inside to meet the owners: Abo Muhammad and his son Yusuf. they're Palestinian, and were very, very, very nice, and their Falafel is probably the BEST falafel that I've ever had in my life. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating, because it had a very unique flavor that melted in my mouth. The Humus was delicious too, and it was a very magical texture to it. We finished eating at 1 am, and then met our parents at a near Baklava shop, and we ordered some, with Turkish delights, and more Turkish tea and coffee. Then the cutest little boy passed by our table, and my parents had a little talk with his parents that lasted until 2 am. They were an amazing Tunisian couple, and the boy's name was Fahad, just like my brother, grandpa, and most of my cousins.
Mom and dad and the boys went back to the hotel, while we went back to the Falafel House and Abo Muhammad gave us a little historic flashback about Turkey, and then expanded to the whole world.
It was 3 am when I noticed my watch, I told my sisters that we had to leave because it was very late to be outside. We thanked Abo Muhammad, but were interrupted by a group of men who know my cousins, they asked us to say hi to them, and pass by their store soon. We promised them, and promised Abo Muhammad that we'll come back for more Falafel and Humus, and maybe, another historic flashback.
Goodnight!
August 4th, 2013
3:30 am
Istanbul 2013
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