May 10 a.m. Istanbul, Day 3
Barbara and I have navigated all sorts of public transportation during the two days that we've been here. We've also walked a lot of miles (according to my pedometer)--10 miles the first day and 6 yesterday. We have seen the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmet's Tomb, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazzar. Yesterday at the Grand Bazaar I bought some lapis lazuli beeds, which I will ask my daughter to string properly and attach a catch. Barbara thinks that I got a bargain. I also bought a little brass whirling dervish that really whirls. And then there are the evil eyes that I bought as gifts. They're everywhere and in all sizes--a very pretty blue with an eye in the middle. I'm sure that they're a good luck charm, but I haven't read anything about them.

The driver who brought Pat and mne to the apartment from the airport (located on the Asian side) said that Istanbul's population is 20 million. Pat read this morning that Istanbul also has micro climates. It's very hilly, which I suppose has something to do with these micro climates. The traffic here is incredible. There are still lots of old narrow streets, and traffic jams are happening constantly, with horns blaring. From our apartment on the 4th floor (that's why it's called the Sultan's Nest), we can hear a constant din of blasting horns. When we go out to shop for groceries, we sometimes have to walk between the traffic jams, but we are very careful.

Today we poan to see the Topkapi Palace and attend a whirling dervish exhibition this evening.