ISTANBUL - DAY 3 - RUMELI - NISANTASI

Woke up to breakfast this morning with Tugcen's touch:


For some reason Tugcen felt her Bra had to be apart of our breakfast fuss this morning. God it's too early in the morning to deal with shit like this...

The plan for today was to visit Rumeli Hisari. One of the most significant tourist spots in Istanbul. Following our breakfast, we rushed out to make our way to Kadikoy ferry terminal. At the ferry terminal we found a very lonely Bill waiting for us. Some how he got involved into all our plans as well.

We caught the ferry towards Besiktas. On the way I pointed out Haydarpasa to Oltz:


We arrived at Besiktas to catch a cab to Rumeli Hisari. It was nearly 4pm by this stage. We arrived at Rumeli Hisari to be told the castle is closing in half an hour. We quickly brought our tickets and rushed inside:

We started walking up to see the beautiful view of Istanbul:

Our long walk ahead:

Once at the top the view is so worth it:

The view was breath taking that you couldn't stop taking photos. I came to Rumeli Hisar with Tugcen in 2005 for Yalin's concert. During summer they usually have concert shows here at nights.

Looking at the photo below you will see parts of the concert stage:


NV posing for a photo here after explaining how to take a photo with a SLR camera to some people:

I sketched this photo in my mind and explained it to Tugcen. Some how Oltz managed to get a special guest appearance in it:

We figured since were here we might as well climb all the way to the top. Tugcen was tired so she decided to sit this one out. While the boys walked on this uneven surface:

We only got to spend half an hour here as the place was shutting down. One could spend more time here soaking up the history.

We walked out of Rumeli Hisari and I suggested we walk along the bosphours towards Bebek. Fred would be so proud. It's something he would make me do with him in Istanbul. Now Fred has been telling me for years about Starbucks at Bebek. Its a popular VIP place with the only starbucks facing the bosphours and the water views. So I suggested we head into Starbucks for a coffee break.

We entered Starbucks to place our order for coffees and cakes. The guy asked for a name and we all stood there in shock. Don't ask me why. The guy looked at us in hope for an answer but we all looked confused as if this was the first time we were ordering at Starbucks.

Tugcen decided to respond evenutally by giving her name. What a relief. The rest of us were still in shock for some reason. The next thing you know while were all standing there chatting, the guy starts screaming "Tugcen Hanim, Tugcen Hanim". The entire place heard him except Tugcen.

We grab our tray and settle outside to soak up the VIP views:

For the next hour all we heard was about Bill and his divorce. I wish I had painkillers on me to deal with this shit. Since being in Istanbul I think we have listened to Bill's divorce story about 293 times.

We decide to move on mainly because no one can handle listening to Bill divorce story anymore. We catch a cab to Nisantasi. This is the main shopping district for designer clothes in Istanbul. If your a label junkie you would only shop here.

The plan was to meet up with Seyda and a friend of her's here for dinner. First we started walking around sightseeing as this was Bill first time in Nisantasi. Some of the buildings are quite old in Nisantasi. This stairway intrigued me quite abit:

Imagine a fashion model photo shoot on these stairs!!!

We eventually hit the main road in Nisantasi and the first thing you see is the clothing shop Zara. Zara's a very famous European brand:

After a few phone calls we discover Seyda and her friend Gulbin. The girls recommend we have dinner at one of the restaurants in the City's building. We walk into the building to see a multi level shopping arade:

The place is swimming in designer clothes. One of my favourite shops DKNY:

Seyda spots a restaurant called "It's a joke". So we decide to follow her in:



We get seated and menu's are placed in front of us. Were told everything on the menu is a joke:

I have to say the decoration of the restaurant is awesome. It's so unique and eye catching:

We place our orders and have no idea what to expect because what is written is not what you get apparently.

Looking at the below picture I'm sure you can spot what I want a photo with:

Our meals start to come one by one and this is what is placed in front of me:

A steaming hot frypan is shoved in front of me. Is this a joke? Am I meant to eat out of the frying pan or are they going to give me a plate? The answer is no plate, eat from the frying pan!

Meanwhile Gulbin doesn't even remember what she ordered but she get this massive baked bread with spagetti inside of it:

Dinner was interesting tonight! We decide to leave the restaurant and head back home. Some how when we leave the restaurant we start talking to Gulbin about this Turkish show Tugcen and I watch called Avrupa Yakasi.

In 2005 when we came to Nisantasi we kept searching for the building that appears as the apartment building on the sitcom. Next thing you know Gulbin tells us its only a few streets away from here. Before the poor girl finishes taking we scream at her to take us.

We have been waiting for years to see this apartment building. After a 5 minute walk were standing outside of the apartment building:

Were quite excited about it. Its like finding the friends apartment building in NY LOL

I give my camera to Tugcen to get a photo of me in front of the building and this is what I get:

Not only has she cut off the apartment building I'm there for but has managed to capture Bill's fucking big fat ass in it! I'm totally disgusted!

We decide to head off to the ferry terminal after this adventure. It has been a long day of sightseeing for us as it is.

We arrive back at Seyda's house (with Bill following us) to watch a movie called Recep. This is like the Turkish version of Borat. Wrong on so many levels can I say! Muhsincim canim benim!

Once the movie ends we start chatting and chatting and chatting. Some how this leads to some drinks and emotional talks about relationships, divorces, marraige and god knows what else. Before you know it its freaking 5am. Seyda needs to be up within 2 hours to go to work. Meanwhile Bill decides to crash on Seyda's lounge...