Hello all!

After I wrote last night....I met up with Oktay and Charles and we went to a Soccer game...like other countries...it is a huge sport here.  Team Istanbul played Team Izmir...not that i'm a soccer fan ...it was fun and a bit wild.  After we went out for lamb.  I was able to get to bed at a more reasonable time of midnight.   I am collecting so much information and stuff....that I should really get back on track with my travel writing and articles again.  More so than this year. 

Istanbul has 16 million people...it is overwhelming.  Last night they were explaining to me the difference between Suni and Shiite Muslims.  also that Turkey will not be allowed to join the EU..they were supposed to in 2008 but it fell apart.  They also explained the history of Turkey in brief...Friday november 10th is Ataturk Day...he was the one that secularized and made Turkey a republic in 1923.  So tomorrow everything shuts down for a while for the commemoration.   At Turkey's greatest point...it included The Baltic States, ARmenia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine. 

This morning I woke up and went to Topkaki Palace...what a great site!  To be honest...i had never heard of it before and come to find out..it is one of those must see sites in the world.  I got there early before the throngs of tourists got there.   It was built in 1532 and was the royal palace of the Sultans.   It was much different than the European Palaces.  I visited the Harem Room, The room of the genies, the art galleries, etc.  I think my highlight of the palace was the Holy Relic room...It contained the Sword of David, the Staff of Moses, the Turban of Joseph, The Tea Set of Abraham, and numerous items of Mohammed...including his tooth, hair, and his cloak.  It was here that I learned more about Mohammed and the rise of Islam.  After wandering the palace...i sat out on the veranda writing postcards, drinking coffee, and gazing at the Bosphoros the strip of water that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. 

I then had to figure out how to get to Troy and gallipoli for tomorrow.  As it turns out....I will be in Istanbul another day.  Saturday i leave at 5:30 Am for Gallipoli....that is the peninsula..now a national cemetery and national park where fierce and bloody battles happend during World War One.  The great part is that Saturday is November 11th...Armicist day...marking the end of WW I.  They are having a big memorial service at the national cemetery where British, New Zealand, Australian, and Turks are buried.  Should be interesting.   Then Sunday I will go to Troy...to see the battle of Troy and the birthplace of Homer in 3000 bc!

After making my arrangements for that part of the trip..i went shopping.   If you think haggling and bartering is bad in latin america...it is even worse and more intense here.  it is downright overwhelming to the point that i didn't even want to shop.  But i did and in the end it was pretty fun.  I then headed back to TAksim square, had coffee and people watched.   Now is my unwind time before Charles and Oktay come home from work and we go out again tonight.

Since I have an extra day in Istanbul...i think tomorrow I may take the boat ride in the Bosphorous...it is supposed to be very interesting and allows you to go to Asia Turkey...I probablly will use tomorrow also to repack, regroup, rest a little.  I have to pace myself since I'm on the road for 3 weeks. 

WEll my friends and family.  I hope all is well with you and that this email find you in good health and with peace.   Until tomorrow.....

With love, Keith