ISTANBUL'S TURKISH NIGHT...

We managed to settle down after being high on the Nargile. It was time to prepare for this evening - our Traditional Turkish Night. We strolled downstairs to the lobby and waited for our bus. Within minutes this chick came strolling through the lobby doors looking for us. She escorted us onto the bus and we were off to Taksim for the evening.

Those that know Istanbul, know that Taksim is the city centre and approx a 10 minute drive from where we are staying. Well tonight we got caught in this massive traffic jam and that 10 minute drive turned into an hour drive.

It made life difficult as we had to keep stopping along the way to pick up other guests. The traffic jam got so bad that the organiser had to jump off the bus a few metres behind a hotel to fetch the guests. When the traffic actually started moving we actually passed the hotel leaving the organiser and guests behind. This meant the organiser and the guests had to start running to catch the bus. They eventually made it onto the bus huffing and puffing.

We eventually reach the restaurant called “Sultana’s” for our evening. We enter the restaurant for the waiter to escort us to our table. Both Lucy and I are in shock when we realise we have front row seats!!! This cant be a good sign! We never get good seats like this. Were doomed!

We sat there as the mezes started making their way to our table:

While munching away the show began with a bellydancer:

Followed by Traditional Turkish Folk Dancing:

Followed by another Bellydancer and this tart:

More Folk dancing:

Padisah arrives:

Meanwhile the main meals are served - Grilled Chicken with rice & chips

Followed by Dessert - Fruits:

Traditional Turkish Cakes:

Now it's time for the Sultana show:

It's time for a sacrifice - Christine?

What was under the white sheet:

More Folk Dancing:

Another bellydancer:

The evening finished up around 11pm. For some reason we were either a little tipsy or exhausted from sitting there. We strolled back onto the bus to avoid any last minute dramas. Its behind me why we didn’t stick around Taksim for a late evening. We walked outside of the restaurant and spotted this big sign:

We spent the next few minutes discussing what type of a show this would be and that we should actually go to it haha As the bus arrived to collect us it started raining very heavily. We jumped on the bus and waved goodbye to Taksim.

Next thing you know we spent the next 10 minutes circling the block looking for a hotel to dump some of the guests. Meanwhile some lunatic on the bus was having a laughing fit over something.
We kept circling the block and spotting the same prostitutes over and over again. Eventually the driver found the first hotel and we dumped some of the guests.

As we started hitting the major highway it started bolting down very heavily as well as thundering. I told you it wasn’t a good sign that we got good seats for the show. Now were paying for it!

We spent ages waiting in a traffic jam. It was a major gridlock and the bus was motionless for the next 20 minutes. I started getting very frustrated and the bitch still having her laughing fit across the aisle wasn’t helping.

It was then that I heard on the radio - Gokhan Ozen’s new song. Gokhan Ozen is like my favourite Turkish singer. I’ve never been disappointed by any of his albums. His new song was awesome. That made my evening. Plus the fact I found out his new CD was on sale tomorrow. We all know what that means. I’m hitting the CD shops tomorrow for the CD. I cant leave Istanbul without it!

Meanwhile the rain and thunder got worse and worse. We eventually started moving. We reached the next few hotels and dumped more people. Last stop was our hotel. That would be right. By the time we reached our hotel it was pass 1:30am. We strolled off the bus, dumped a few coins in the tip tray and headed straight into the hotel lobby.

As we were entering the hotel we realised that Maestro was closed. Damn no soup tonight. We walked over so we can get a photo of me banging on the Maestro doors haha

We stroll into the hotel and have a chat with the reception guy and tell him about our traffic drama. Neither Lucy or I were sleepy so we decided to use the hotel internet for some nasty research. We have a plan that arised on the bus. You see we had way too much time sitting on a bus stuck in traffic. Usually that’s when the evil thoughts come out. Watch this space to see what that is…

We decided to have a nightcap by hitting a glass of wine each special thanks to the reception guy. Eventually once our plan was in motion we decided to crash for the evening only to listen to the neighbours having sex again. The thing is they only tend to last for a few minutes and then they stop and start again. Looks like the guy comes too quick hahahaha