**Ellen is mildly annoyed. The internet cut out - hence the delay in posting. Here is the original in all its glory:**

Once again, for those who have, like me and most Americans, a 15 second attention span, I give you: the Cliff Notes! [Cue trumpets]

Key Note: No snafus! Money is available, camera is working, food is delicious, etc. Hesitantly expecting an earthquake.

9 am: We leave our lovely inhabitance of the last few nights and begin our trek across land and sea, braving such horrid conditions like warm sunlight and sparkling green seas. Alas no camels. In its stead: a Mercedes-Benz Greyhound-style bus equipped with cushy seats, TV, Turkish flag, and Mezut the Tour Guide. Note about the buses in Turkey: all buses are required to come with state-trained tour guides. Interesting implications, no?

So, first things first: I claim my seat. Much like a dog marks his territory with urine, I mark mine with drool. So priorities acknowledged and completed, we set off to Bursa. Mezut tells us interesting things about the country as we slowly and suredly creep out of Istanbul. Insert characterization: Mezut is a tour guide of 14 years, originally from Germany (though still Turkish), who has a 3.5 year old son named Kaan and the most gorgeous blue-green eyes. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for awesome eyes (there’s a reason Anthony Hopkins and Paul Newman are my favorite actors – I mean besides just pure and complete awesomeness).

We cross the Marmara Sea via car ferry. Water? So pretty. A blueish green color that makes you want to take pictures, even though people hate looking at water pictures. Also was the epicenter of the devastating 1999 earthquake that killed 15,000. Huh. Mood killer. Moving on. We continue driving as Omid and I, among other things, plot the development of Ellenopolis.

We arrive in Iznik, home of the famous Iznik tiles, and eat delicious indigenous fish, served just the way the good ole Southern girl in me likes: fried. Oops, almost forgot: stopped in a famous church that held the second great congregation of Christian leaders who determined the future of Christianity. Ehh a decrepit stone building – pretty cool, a giant ornate mosque dominating the skyline – epic.

Wandering around Iznik, one notices several things:

We head into a museum that displays many of the ancient artifacts, Greco-Roman monuments, and world-famous Iznik tiles that were discovered around the town. My eye is immediately caught by a large jug, which upon closer inspection contains a human skeleton curled in a fetal position. So cool.  Rosebushes were then discovered as everyone took their next Facebook profile picture.

We wander onward to a local collection of artists and their shops, and we all peruse the local tilework produced.  The amazing beauty of their work (and the small shop atmosphere with the artist hovering by helpfully) prompts the purchase of a blue tile necklace. Wallets lighter and suitcases heavier, we then all board our faithful bus driver’s bus and head to Bursa. I would describe the view of the countryside and the entrance to Bursa but I fear it would be curiously similar to the description of my inner eyelids.

Upon the successful arrival in Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, we are forced to wait an extra two minutes as a famous Turkish pop singer checked in ahead of us. This would’ve elicited a much more excited reaction had my nap not been interrupted. Our hotel? Probably one of the nicest I have ever stayed in. Though admittedly my usual travelling lodgings are somewhat on the same level as the luxurious Motel 6.

Once at the hotel, we all take an hour and a half break and read our assigned reading, Love is the Wine (Look Mom! I’m learning!). The book discusses many of the Sufi teachings of one of the more famous Sufi sheikhs. Very intriguing. While personally I don’t agree with everything, it prompts a lot of thought about life, as all good books do.

Dinner is a feast fit for a king (Aww I can’t think of a term for a ruler that begins with an F. Going for the alliteration. Alas.). HUGE spread of food. So glad I decided to wear my stretchy new poofy pants. But what was even more amazing was the dessert section. WOW. Mountains upon mountains of glorious chocolate covered and honey dipped treats.

We finish up and roll ourselves Violet Beauregarde-style out of the dining room to another room for discussion time. A very interesting discussion then proceeds to take place with regards to Sufi beliefs and I leave feeling quite intellectually stimulated. Some people go to beaches for vacation, others study Sufi mysticism.

Well, as I sit out here on the floor of the hallway of our Turkish hotel in the wee hours of the morning, I reflect on the successes of the trip so far:

Yepp, another successful day in the Republic of Turkey! Signing out :)

**Oh, you might have noticed that there were no pictures on this one. Couldn't find any good ones from online so I'm going to try an upload my own later this evening (even though I have been promising that the whole trip...)**