TeacherBeacon: July 2011

We met in the lobby at 615 am, packed up the bus and took the drive to the Ataturk Airport. We drove along the coast of the Sea of Marmara noting the large number of ships (one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world). We went through various security checks (many of those today in 3 countries). My passport was questioned as it was issued yesterday and therefore did not have an entry sticker, but I was cleared to go on. I am writing this in the plane now as we go to Heathrow in England for our first change over. We had to take a bus to another terminal, driver on the right side of the vehicle was weird to see. We left late from England and therefore when we got to Chicago, which was very busy and a long 1 hour line through customs, we missed our conecting flight. We were lucky that we got a flight 4 hours later to Oklahoma city. It took us 28 hours to go from the dorm at Uludag University to the Dorm at Oklahoma Centeral University, arriving at 1 am. We were so happy to see Dr. Barthells again. We began comparing US to Turkey world. We noted how different things were, people, food etc. The transition back to US life style will take a bit of time.

Looking out of Van window at the sea

My ticket stubs

Airport

England

Hello native country airplanes

REU's all cozy

Yes this is Chicago

This Chicago fast food sign was ironic to us on many different levels

In Oklahoma

Dazed and tired

1 am on campus

Up early, check with person at the hotel (remember not a traditional hotel), which was more like a Pasha's house converted into a hotel, with old style Ottomon furnishings. The person at the hotel called us a taxi. We had a long ride ahead of us. We crossed over the Bosphorus on a bridge that links Europe to Asia. So we were now on the Asian side of Istanbul. We went past the Dolmabache Palace, which we went to visit later in the day. We (me and Amanda) headed to the towards the US Consulate which was in Istinye, a suburb of Istanbul. The Consulate is fortress like to protect against attacks, it is built up on a hill. We talked to some Turkish security people on the outside and they asked me if I had an appointment, which I thought I had based on my conversations with consolate person last night. I was not on the list. I gave the guard Mark Buggy's phone number and he called him and it was worked out. I did have an appointment but since I called later last night it did not get printed on the master list. We lined up on a short line to get inside. They took and stored all our electronic devices, checked our bags and we went through a scanner. We cleared. We proceeded down a hallway, went up an elevator got a number and went to an area reserved for American Citizens. There were a large number of Turkish people getting visas to visit the US. They took me quickly I had to get some forms to fill out. I had to leave the building to go across the street to get some passport pictures and a photocopy of my drivers liscence. After I went back into the building going through security again. I payed $135 US. Then they said it all looks fine but they could not process the application quickly and that I should come back at 3 pm. Amanda and I decided that we would visit the Dolmabace palace so we took a cab to the palace in about 1/2 hour. This was a great idea as it was a fantastic site to see. This was the administrative seat of the Ottomon Empire between 1856 to 1922. It took 10 years to build and because of its high expense was considered one of the reasons that the empire got so weak. It drained the treasury. There was a large Harem present in a separate building in the area and hugh and elegant harem rooms in the maing building. It contains some of the biggest crystal Chandaliers in the world. At the time royality from all over Europe would stay at the palace. They probably brought gifts as the place is strewned with european furniture and paintings. There were many historical paintings of various leaders, sultans, Ottomon battles and European scenes. The entire edifice was very European style. Each room was over ornately decorated, quite gaudy in a really beautiful way. It is really difficult to explain the grandeur and large size of everything, even the Sultan's person Hamam (bathing area). We walked around the Gardens had some chi. At the entrance to the palace gate there was a soldier dressed in 1920' s fatigues who stood all day in one attention stance. A gun proped on the ground and a knife behind his back. It was so hot, another soldier would come up to the erect soldier and wipe off his face every 10 minutes or so. We walked around a bit, hailed a cab and went to pick up my passport which worked out fine. We decided that we had enough of nefarious cab drivers (I am sure we were getting overcharged) and took the rather fantastic public transportation back to the hotel. We walked to catch the public van, on our way we decided to stop at a music store. The store ownerwas magnificent, he played and sang for us and orded chi for us to drink (see videos). The owner's son took us to where the bus picked us up. He made sure we got on the right bus which would take us to the large mall. We walked from the mall for about 10 minutes to the subway (metro). We had to take 3 different trains to cross over to European side, but we did make it and got off near the Red Mosque. We went to the hotel walking past the famous sites for the last time in Istanbul. Amanda wanted to check out some stores on more time. I rested at the hotel for an hour or so and then we went to a restaurant close by that had veggy dishes which made me quite happy. I tried to skype some people to let them I was okay and got my passport. I did reach my brother. I did a final packing and a quadruple check that I had my wallet and passport/police report and other assorted documents. I will need these for the long journey back to Oklahoma and UCO.
Crossing the Bosphorus