The Final Days of the Trip, Return, and Wrap-Up
(lots of pics)
The previous day posted about Cappadocia was actually the start of our last day in Cappadocia; we checked out of the cave hotel, put our suitcases in the back of the travel-van, and toured around for half of the day, then our tour company dropped us off at the Kayseri Airport in the afternoon (*not* as nice as Ankara, and no pics allowed in the airport). Flew back to Istanbul, were met by our shuttle back to the hotel. We were pretty exhausted and had even stopped taking so many photos, so when we re-checked in, we chilled out and then went in the pool.
Our last day in Istanbul was a "tour-free" day, so we spent it doing wrap-up shopping at the Grand Bazaar. We haggled, we drank tea and heard life stories, and strolled around til our heads were spinning and legs were tired, it was a good day. Here's kingfox with the dude that we bought fezzes from, trying to upsell us a lot of costume-stuff. We drank apple tea with him and talked about our respective love lives and travel.
some plus-size mannequins at the edge of the Grand Bazaar (again, it stood out because, like France, there weren't many fat people in Turkey)
passing by a lounge in the Grand Bazaar, decorated with Ataturk memorabilia
checking out in Istanbul
some airplane food on our travels (Istanbul to Chicago, Chicago to Philly. Turkish Air food was actually pretty good)
MISERABLe flight back, constant baby-crying and no sleep, and when we arrived at Philly airport, I had some kind of stomach-bug that was making me throw up, but was okay by the next morning. Our friend runstaverun gave us a lift from Philly back to our car in NJ during the midnight hour, and we were glad to be back.
(pic sitting in O'Hare, culture-shockin', catching up on messages on my Droid)
Lastly, to wrap things up, here are some pictures that kingfox took on his Blackberry and broken camera of our trip (my faves of his photos, plus some shots of me)
eating lebanese wraps on a parisian curb
crashing out on the bathroom floor in the Alps
(me nervous about cows during our hike down to Bourg St. Maurice; what if they charge at you?)
our poland stopover
waiting for the tram
@ basilica cistern
a "Portal" moment in the hotel
the bread that they surprised us with, eating family-style with Alek and Co. in Cappadocia
cave hotel
stooping through a corridor in the Underground City
Well, that's it! Carpe.
(Thanks for all the nice comments about the trip and photos; if you have any questions about the places we visited or want more info, feel free to message me!)
The previous day posted about Cappadocia was actually the start of our last day in Cappadocia; we checked out of the cave hotel, put our suitcases in the back of the travel-van, and toured around for half of the day, then our tour company dropped us off at the Kayseri Airport in the afternoon (*not* as nice as Ankara, and no pics allowed in the airport). Flew back to Istanbul, were met by our shuttle back to the hotel. We were pretty exhausted and had even stopped taking so many photos, so when we re-checked in, we chilled out and then went in the pool.
Our last day in Istanbul was a "tour-free" day, so we spent it doing wrap-up shopping at the Grand Bazaar. We haggled, we drank tea and heard life stories, and strolled around til our heads were spinning and legs were tired, it was a good day. Here's kingfox with the dude that we bought fezzes from, trying to upsell us a lot of costume-stuff. We drank apple tea with him and talked about our respective love lives and travel.
some plus-size mannequins at the edge of the Grand Bazaar (again, it stood out because, like France, there weren't many fat people in Turkey)
passing by a lounge in the Grand Bazaar, decorated with Ataturk memorabilia
checking out in Istanbul
some airplane food on our travels (Istanbul to Chicago, Chicago to Philly. Turkish Air food was actually pretty good)
MISERABLe flight back, constant baby-crying and no sleep, and when we arrived at Philly airport, I had some kind of stomach-bug that was making me throw up, but was okay by the next morning. Our friend runstaverun gave us a lift from Philly back to our car in NJ during the midnight hour, and we were glad to be back.
(pic sitting in O'Hare, culture-shockin', catching up on messages on my Droid)
Lastly, to wrap things up, here are some pictures that kingfox took on his Blackberry and broken camera of our trip (my faves of his photos, plus some shots of me)
eating lebanese wraps on a parisian curb
crashing out on the bathroom floor in the Alps
(me nervous about cows during our hike down to Bourg St. Maurice; what if they charge at you?)
our poland stopover
waiting for the tram
@ basilica cistern
a "Portal" moment in the hotel
the bread that they surprised us with, eating family-style with Alek and Co. in Cappadocia
cave hotel
stooping through a corridor in the Underground City
Well, that's it! Carpe.
(Thanks for all the nice comments about the trip and photos; if you have any questions about the places we visited or want more info, feel free to message me!)