Saying Goodbye to Istanbul

Today was our last full day of meetings in Istanbul. We met with an arts an culture NGO called Anadolu Kultur, had lunch and some free time around Taksim Square (one of the most famous places in Istanbul), then met with a foundation called the Turkey European Foundation which works to better the cause of Turkey's accession to the EU. Then we came to our hotel area, did our final souvenir/gift shopping. I now have 15 minutes to finish typing this, pack my bags and get ready for dinner. We're having dinner right near our hotel with a politician from the opposition party (we had dinner last night with a politician from the ruling party, AKP). Then we're all going out for our last night in Istanbul then leaving for the hotel at 5:30am. (please note that I did not include time for sleeping).

Hope all is well with everyone and I promise to write up a really summary and some thoughts about this trip once I'm back in the US and have had some sleep.

Istanbul!

So I've gone through Cyprus and Greece and I'm now in Turkey. Istanbul is an amazingly gorgeous city and my brand new hotel room (we are literally the first guests in this hotel) has a view out the window of the famous Blue Mosque (I'd include a link here to more info but I'm beyond exhausted and trust that you know how to work Google).

We had one day of meetings here on Friday, when we met with the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox church (the equivalent of the Pope) and then an NGO and documentary filmmakers. Then yesterday we spent time shopping at the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia (for real, google these places, they're beautiful). Today we took a boat ride on the Bosphorous to the Asian side of Turkey (yes, I've been in Europe and Asia today) where we had a delicious seafood lunch. Then we came back and visited a palace whose name I won't attempt with this much exhaustion. Afterward we had some free time (gasp!) and some of us took advantage of that to go to a Turkish Bath where we sat in a hot marble room for about an hour and then got a massage. One of the most relaxing things I've ever done but also contributed to this exhaustion(sorry is this sounds like I'm complaining! I'm not!).

Funny story that I've been complaining about today though...
Last night, a large portion of the group went out to celebrate one of our classmates' birthdays. When we came back, I hopped in the shower where I barely had time to get my hair wet before the power went out in our hotel. After trying to figure out what was going on, I decided to take a dark shower anyway. Then, just after I washed the shampoo out of my hair, the water turned off. The sink in our room still doesn't work but power and most other water is back on today. Just thought I'd share a bit of what this trip has been like!

We have 2 more days full of meetings and then back to DC we go :(

Phots before I fall asleep!

Spent the day today on a Greek island exploring and enjoying the beach. Got lots of sun and loved it.

Here's some pictures of the trip so far, they're either stolen from friends who have already uploaded theirs or are from my phone...enjoy!

Me and a statue of Makarios, Trodos Mountains, Cyprus

eating fish in Paphos, Cyprus

Trodos Mountains, Cyprus

Group in the Trodos Mountains, Cyprus

Out of order, sitting on the plane in DC for our 2 hour delay

The beach in Larnaca, Cyprus

my feet in the Mediterranean

more fish with eyes!

At a restaurant in the UN Buffer Zone

Narnia! Nicosia, Cyprus

Kyrenia, Cyprus waiting for the former President of TRNC

Again, beautiful peacemakers waiting

Bus ride to Famagusta, Cyprus

Ferry in Athens, Greece

Feet again, on Agina island in Greece

Temple of a nymph named Aphia

Classmates on the beach in Agina, Greece

My friend Maya in Agina

Sam and Kristin on the ferry leaving Agina, Greece

Me on the ferry!

Cyprus kept me too busy to blog :(

I know I know I promised you all that I would blog frequently while in Cyprus and I've obviously not kept up that promise. I'm currently sitting in the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus getting ready to board my flight to Athens.


I'm copy and pasting this next section that I typed up yesterday...

So I've been in Cyprus for 10 days and haven't posted a single blog entry. It has been an incredibly intense experience and I've had little time to sit at my computer (and the short amount of free time that I have had, I've wanted to do many other things besides being stuck to my computer). I'm very sorry for not keeping everyone updated like you asked but I'll try to now!

I'm typing this on my iPhone in a note as we drive in a bus from the capital of Nicosia to Famagusta in the north. (pictures)
This trip to Famagusta is our last trip as a group before we leave for Athens tomorrow morning. I'm definitely not ready to leave Cyprus and already thinking about ways to get back here soon.

Each day we've been here, we've met with multiple people from all different parts of society. We've spent time on both 'sides' of the island and even some time in the UN buffer zone (there's a picture of me in a UN blue beret on someones camera!). Most of the people we've met with are either pro-peace activists, NGO workers and other community organizers or political elite. The past few days especially have been mostly political leaders of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The TRNC is a government and country recognized by only 1 other country(Turkey). Currently, the president of TRNC, Eroglu, and the president of The Republic of Cyprus (the officially internationally recognized government of Cyprus), Christofias, are participating in closed door negotiations with a UN appointed mediator to figure out a settlement of the 'Cyprus Problem'.




Now back to the current moment, sitting in the airport typing this up and Skyping with a friend from home.


I'm not ready to leave Cyprus. I've absolutely loved the country and learned much more about lots of things than I ever expected to. I'll write a more reflective post when I get a chance in Athens, or on the plane ride possibly.


Love to all!