Spanning Two Continents

On Saturday, we (8 CIEE students) ventured to the continent across the Bosphorus - Asia! We didn't really know what we'd find, but most of us had never set foot in Asia, and decided that it was time. We took the dolmuş to Beşiktaş and then took a ferry across to the district in Asia - Üsküdar.

Looking at the bridge from Europe to Asia

My first step in Asia!

When we arrived on the other side, we stopped for some çay and then took a short walk to our lunch spot. After we feasted (it's the only word to describe the size of the meal) at a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet (our new favorite meal and sight finder), we continued our journey. We found a palace that we had hoped to locate, only to find out that it had been almost totally demolished in the 60s or 70s, and that the remaining 2 rooms had been converted to an indoor bazaar. We then found what looked to be a museum and eagerly approached it. Little did we know it was really a wedding hall - awkward. A little defeated, we walked toward the water to (finally) find some lovely sights. First, we found a small bazaar on the way which had beautiful flowers and delicious-looking fruit and nuts. 

When we finally made it to the water, we found this game to be common. You can pay a man with a BB gun (one that looks awfully like a serious shotgun) to give you a chance at shooting the balloons. It was Will's birthday, so we all chipped in to give him a shot (literally). With 10 BBs, he was able to hit 5-6 balloons - not bad!

We also passed an adult playground! In reality, it's a public, outdoor gym that people actually use - such a cool idea! We found out that they're all over the city, and most of them are on the shore with beautiful views.

We then came upon the Maiden's (or Leander's) tower. There are many conflicting stories about the history of the tower, ranging from simple lighthouse to jail for political prisoners, but it is essentially a mid-Bosphorus watch tower. There's a ferry that runs continuously between the tower and the shore, so we decided to cross and take a look. You climb about 6 flights of spiral stairs, and there is a cafe/bar at the top. You can also venture outside to take some photos and admire the view. It was chilly, so we didn't stay long. 

Finally, once back on shore, in the sun, and away from the wind, we decided to sit and have a cup of çay. between the roads and the coast of Üsküdar, there are these graduated cement slabs where people can sit and relax on the Bosphorus. Some people have decided to capitalize on this and set out rugs and pillows - in effect, making couches on the cement - and sell çay and snacks. We settled in to one of these places and took a break (or a small nap, in about half of our cases). The only down side is that you are frequently propositioned by people trying to sell perfume, snacks, and touristy things. 

Although the weather has been rough during the week, the weekends thus far have been amazing. The day in Asia was a little chilly, but the sun was bright and the air was clear - making for a great day of sight seeing! After Saturday, I can't wait to venture further onto the Asian side, into other parts of Turkey. Even though it looked and felt about identical to the European side, we can all say that we've been to Asia, so I'm content!