Turkey: Take Two

There are things I both loved and disliked about Turkey and my time there.
Going to the ISEB (International Society for Environmental Biogeochemistry) meeting taught me that I am not the number #1 super-star scientist I wish to be. Okay, I kind of already knew that. Nor am I the reprobate some people have suggested I am. I kind of knew that too, but it is one thing to think a thing and another to have data to support your hypothesis. I am a solid, middle-of-the-pack scientist under an ascendant star. This bodes well and it was something I really needed to know as I begin to think about where I want to go and what I want to do when I graduate.
I became very close with several wonderful people through the process and learned that I really need to learn how to better feign happiness and interest in people I find utterly boring or frustrating or both.
These were all valuable lessons and outcomes that I really needed.
The food is amazing and I couldn't have been more thrilled with all the good eating and drinking to be had on almost every corner.
The markets should be approached on weekdays and later in the evening to get the best deals. Haggling is a must and apparently something I am very good at, however, haggling is close to non-existent on the weekends when all the tourists are afoot. What I will say is that the men in the shops and on the streets have no problem being forward with women. I had a man follow me down the street calling me sexy and asking me to go have a drink, which was really uncomfortable. I was not dressed in anyway that might give him the impression it was okay to speak to me that way, but it happened because I have light colored hair and a few curves. Be fore warned.
The Grand Bazaar was enormous, like a corn maze, but without the aid of solar navigation. It is very easy to get lost. I believe this is a strategy. I also found it more pricey than the smaller Spice Market and some of the street vendors in places like Taksim.
One of the crown jewels of Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia. It's breath-taking in it's size and history.  It is hard not to be humbled by the place. The mosaics are phenomenal and perhaps the most stellar part of the museum.
Though far less ornate in their presentation than the Hagia Sophia, the mosques provide a meaningful glimpse into a religion I do not know much about. It was interesting to observe part of a prayer service while I was there. I found the muslims I encountered to be kind and helpful, which was awesome because I got myself into a couple of uncomfortable situations.

I wanted to include some of my very beautiful pictures, but for some reason blogger isn't uploading them. Stay-tuned for edits forthcoming.