Once again, the Outline: (which really is necessary because it’s been two whole days now. With a mind like a sieve, retention isn’t my greatest attribute)

Location: Bursa, former Ottoman capital. Planned departure time: 9 am. Time we ate breakfast: 9:15 am. Ahhh, Mezut. I know you’re German and used to strict time schedules but we are on vacation time! Besides, enjoy the moment, right?

First stop: Calligraphy Mosque. And yes, that’s not its real name. Hey, you couldn’t even pronounce its real name anyway [sweeping generalization]. Very cool mosque, I must admit. I LOVE the contrast between the white walls and the HUGE black paintings of Arabic calligraphy. Though the painted decorations of curtains and pillars on the wall? Tacky. Pshh who would want to copy a French style of decoration anyway?

   

The mosque was very serene, especially with a beautiful running fountain in the middle. It was very therapeutic sitting there listening to the running water… and the footsteps of hundreds of school children stampeding the mosque…and the loud vacuum right next to me…and the several other tour groups that decided to pop in there as well. Ahh perfect atmosphere for meditation.

Next stop: the Green Mosque. Which is not green. It is teal. And A blueish teal at that. Well, there were a few green tiles inside but that is NOT justification. From there we head to the Green Shrine. Ok seriously? Seriously? If you have issues identifying colors, then STOP naming buildings after colors! A blue teal is NOT green.  Cool tombstones inside though.

We come across this amazing store that is four stories tall, filled with amazing things like tiles, clothing, boxes, pillows, lamps, ceramics, and what not. It was like kids in a candy store as the chains were cut and we were unleashed into the shop. Amount of time we were given: 5 min. Time we were there: 50 min. Hmmm well they both start with a five. They had this *awesome* rooftop terrace filled with ceramics, trees, and pillows. So comfy and relaxing.

We then went to lunch, though the group did split up. Most went to this place that claims to have invented the iskander kabob. Haha suckers. WE ended up going to this great little restaurant with super nice people, great food, and it was cheap. All great qualities. AND the waiter totally thought I understood Turkish. Sahweet. I hope you all realize that at this point I know four words in Turkish. Luckily, I’ve learned a few more since then – bringing me to a grand total of six.

This bazaar was a little bit different than the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. It was clearly oriented to the locals (as much as we wanted too, we couldn’t fit the couches in our luggage), and it was much cleaner. My favorite part? We found this great courtyard under the trees and filled with locals. A few of us sat down, had our elma chai, and just enjoyed the people-watching (Seriously who thinks that a combo of bleach blond and jet black hair arranged in a mop-like fashion looks good? Who?). No joke, I did not move from that chair in an hour and a half.

Key discoveries? That health developments of Lady Gaga are important enough to appear on the front page of one of the Turkish papers’ section. Mitch nearly had a heart attack from sheer joy. He nearly died when a few seconds later he heard there was a cheese market nearby. Lady Gaga and cheese = Mitch’s idea of heaven on earth (see? So many religious experiences)

Ahh yes. The pool adventure. Where to begin? Well we all (well mostly all, but as the Malibu commercial says: dee-tails.) head back to the hotel and Kat and I decided to go make use of the swimming pool that was supposedly somewhere on the ground floor. First problem: I go back for computer and my key to my room no longer works. So naturally I try again. Again red light. Well third time’s the charm right? Or how about thirtieth time? Three hundredth? Ten minutes later, here is the scene: Kat is standing worried by the elevator, thinking I had died. I am banging my head against the wall as I continue my rhythmic swiping, all with the hope that maybe this time it’ll work. Or this time. A crowd has gathered cheering me on. Cleaning ladies are shaking their head and laughing (their thoughts are probably running along the typical line of “stupid Americans”). Finally, a hotel staff member walking by takes pity on me and fetches me a new key (that I should’ve gone and gotten a long time ago…but didn’t because the next swipe could’ve been the one that worked! Duh). Yay! Obstacle = overcome.

Next dilemma: finding the pool. After much wandering, dodging cleaning ladies, discovering hidden yet smelly staircases, and throwing ourselves at glass windows [or really, throwing myself – Kat refrained from partaking in the Human Battering Ram], we make it finally to the basement, alleged location of this mysterious pool. Hmm, first glance? Nothing. Empty room with a few doors and hallways leading from it. Uh oh! Cleaning men coming! Run! *scamper scamper scamper*. I run and hide behind the elevator, forgetting that the back of the elevator is glass and therefore transparent. Smart move Ellen.

However, narrow catastrophe avoided (because clearly being discovered by cleaning men in the basement will have unimaginable consequences) and we wander around the room some more. I peer into one of the translucent doors, trying to see inside. Lo and behold, a man is standing there staring back at me. I FREAK out and sprint to the nearest potted plant, crouching behind it. [Kat meanwhile is standing there so confused]. The man comes out and starts talking to Kat, revealing that yes, yes it was the pool. It took much convincing but eventually I was coaxed out from behind the plant and we enter to discover the pool. Victory at last is ours! Naturally I celebrate by pulling up a chair and conking out, hardcore dead body style. All that work and I don’t even get to use the pool :/. Typical.

I sit down in the lobby to continue reading Love is the Wine. This take 2 hours to read the 30 page section. Now don’t get me wrong. The book is a very easy read. Just very thought-provoking. And the several tour groups marching by, all with matching baseball caps or matching backpacks were slightly distracting. I mean, someone has to make fun of them, albeit silently. We then go to class and discuss the readings. Most fascinating thing? The creation of Satan and the nature of jinn. Mental to do list: learn more.

A group of us then head out to a local ice cream shop. Apparently standing there debating between chocolate and strawberry will result in a mixed scoop of both types. Well that certainly ended my indecisiveness! We wander about (a recurring theme) and eventually just head back to the hotel and chat outside at the tables. We start with about nine-ish, and slowly yet surely we weed them off. 1 am: down to three. 2 am: two left. 4 am: Omid and I decide to call it a night. Pshh who needs sleep anyway when there’s great conversation to be had?

But yes, that is why I did not get a chance to post last night. I figured it was more important to grab at least a little sleep (this post has taken me two hours to type – ugh). But yes, thus ends Ellen’s adventures in Bursa.

Peace.