July 25 and a Turkish Evening

Once again, today at the MTT and CJT tracks were reletively uneventful. The boys worked on preparing their cases for the upcoming MTT tournament, while I sat through lectures about arguements related to the MTT topic, creating lesson plans to teach argumentation and refuation, and tricky judging situations.

While the tracks were in full swing at the Doğa College Bostancı, Mr. and Mrs. Tolksdorf proceeded to Sultanahmet to visit the New Mosque, the Spice Bazaar, the Süleymaniye Mosque, and the Roman Aqueduct. Interestingly, most people at the Spice Baazar spoke very good English, were polite and courteous (and not as pushy as the Grand Bazaar), and had a sense of humor. Many welcomed them to Istanbul. The Spice Bazaar had mounds of colorful spices everywhere, and the lovely aroma of the various spices filled the air. Turkish Delight, coffee, and tea were for sale at every turn. The atmosphere was more relaxed and filled with jovial shopkeepers than at the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar shopkeepers go for the "hard sell," and really do not let you browse their shops with ease.

Later in the evening, after out tracks had finished, we once again travelled out to Bağdat Caddesi to grab dinner - at the Havelka Restaurant, a popular spot amongst the young, with a large, open-air patio near the street side. While there, we enjoyed native Turkish food (I had tuvak shish) and ordered a grape flavored Turkish naghrile (water pipe - hookah pipe) to enjoy while eating: when in Rome... The service was friendly and helpful; they deligently attend your table and well as your pipe. And the best part, cheaper than access to the lunch buffet at the hotel. We then had an uneventful cab ride back to the hotel.

Pictures:
Roughly in order: Turkish Money, New Mosque, Spice Bazaar, New Mosque, more money, Spice Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque, Roman Aqueduct, New Mosque, the Havelka Restaurant.



Post: Alex