we also managed to eat some fantastic food, and in spite of the rainy weather, and my tiny pink umbrella that really didn't serve any good in keeping us dry, we had a great time.
on Sunday i took a ferry and crossed over the Bosphorus to the Asia side (Istanbul spans both Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus), and attended services at a church that had connections with the one i attend in Philly. i had very little idea of what was being said in the service, but enjoyed learning to sing some Turkish songs, and just get a taste of worship amidst people of all nations....made me appreciate the grand reach of the gospel, that it's not just for a certain people.
on my way back to Europe, i decided to take a taxi so i could have time to pick up my luggage from the hotel and head to the airport.....and this is the beginning of another adventure. i was stuck in a taxi a lot longer than usual since there were a whole bunch of road closures and detours due to some protests. my cab driver spoke absolutely no English, and we conversed in Turkish (or at least i tried) the entire time....during which i surmised that he was indeed trying to pick me up. it was a most ridiculous situation, with language barriers like you wouldn't believe, and physical attempts by the cabbie to woo me--can you imagine him trying to dance with me in the car? and...at one point he took my hand and kissed it. if this had been anywhere else, i'd gotten out of the cab, however, we were on some highway or somewhere (i had no idea), and i really needed to get back and not miss my flight. long story short, he wasn't creepy enough that i used his services from the hotel to the airport- since i was able to get him to give me a cheaper rate. he did give me his phone number, and after asking for mine, i finally just lied and told him i had a boyfriend i was meeting, so he'd leave me alone.
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