Follow the cats: Spring break edition

This last week and a half I was fortunate enough to have a “vacation from my vacation,” as I like to call it. I traveled on a ridiculously spread-out odyssey to Istanbul, Athens and Barcelona with two friends from high school. In between catching planes and attempting to understand even-more-foreign languages, I collected some field notes.

Days 1-4: Istanbul, Turkey

Breakfast in our Taksim hostel: Turkish tea, olives, bread, jam, eggs and a strange, salty cheese spread. I could get used to this.

Kristian and I attempted to find the Church of St. Sophia at Chora, walking. Of course, we got hopelessly lost, but we did end up seeing the streets of real Istanbul. Followed some stray cats to the top of an abandoned mosque. Got weird looks from the neighbors. Roadside baklava—Kristian’s first. I nearly cried with happiness, it was that good. Got directions from nice shopkeepers, a school kid and more stray cats brought us back to the highway. Hailed a taxi, taxi hits a man, we got in the taxi anyway. Welcome to Istanbul!

We took a visit to the Grand Bazaar, non-stop heckling. Stopped in at one of the dime-a-dozen self-serve cafeterias; the amount of students packed in each one made it feel like home.

Very Turkish
Very Turkish

Thousands of years of history in a single day: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and the Topkapi Palace. Ancient Christian mosaics, lessons on modern Islam, and the chance to pretend like I’m a princess (which was still fun at 21.)

Inside of the Hagia Sophia
Inside of the Hagia Sophia
At the Blue Mosque - Gotta follow the dress code!
At the Blue Mosque – Gotta follow the dress code!
Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque

Picnics in the park with stray cats, laying on my lap in the sun and eating out of my yogurt cup. Beers along the Bosphorous late at night, cheap mussels and rice from street vendors, and an introduction to lahmacune (like a Turkish pizza, arguably my new favorite food.)

Classic Turkish cat move
Classic Turkish cat move

Walked along the Galata Bridge, visited the Spice Market and ate far too much Turkish delight (just like the guy in Narnia.) Had an unforgettable Turkish hamam experience: large Turkish woman scrubbing me (the only non-Turkish woman in there) down with something close to sandpaper. Long shot from an American-style spa, but oh so satisfying.

Turkish Delight, I miss you already
Turkish Delight, I miss you already
Right where they belong (at the Spice Market)
Right where they belong (at the Spice Market)
View from the Galata Bridge (pardon the smudge!)
View from the Galata Bridge (pardon the smudge!)

Our final morning in Istanbul brought us to Pierre Loti, a breathtaking overlook dedicated to a French poet. With a goodbye to the hostel and a “doner kebap” in hand, we headed to Athens.

The view from Pierre Loti
The view from Pierre Loti

Days 4-7: Athens, Greece

Took a ferry to the island of Aegina, about an hour off of mainland Greece. After a lunch of fresh fish and Greek salads, we rented a small car and drove around the island. Felt like an old-school road trip, except we were speeding past olive trees instead of rows of corn. Thinking we were seeing a misplaced monument, we accidentally snuck into a remote monastery. Quite the adventure. Finished the day skipping rocks on the quiet beach.

Just a ferry ride away…
Just a ferry ride away…
Charming boats in Aegina’s port
Charming boats in Aegina’s port
Our trusty steed
Our trusty steed
Aegina the beautiful
Aegina the beautiful

Took a walking tour led by a modern-day Indiana Jones and a stray dog we named “Loaf.” Saw the sites of recent riots, the Temple of Zeus, the Roman and Athenian agoras, the Acropolis from afar. Stuffed our faces with Greek frozen yogurt and gyros. Climbed to the highest point in Athens and drank in the views.

So much tour guiding, so little time
So much tour guiding, so little time
The highest point in Athens!
The highest point in Athens!

Explored a central park, attempted to eat a naturally-growing orange (I would not recommend it.) Culinary adventure of olive and ouzo, the licorice-flavored national drink of Greece (again, would not recommend it.)

Final day spent exploring the Acropolis in the rain. Imagined people in togas slipping on the rocks and inventing democracy. Visited the Acropolis museum, tagged along with school tours. Those crazy kids.

Rainy touring is a little less fun. But not by much.
Rainy touring is a little less fun. But not by much.
Had to get my pic in front of the Parthenon
Had to get my pic in front of the Parthenon

Days 7-10: Barcelona, Spain

I never once regretted studying abroad in the continuous cold until hitting the Barcelona. One look at the winding streets and beautiful Gaudi constructions, all while sunshine warmed my tired traveling bones, I was in love.

Our first full day strolled down the bustling street of La Rambla, lined with gelato stands and crammed with people. Found La Boqueria, the old flower market turned into a giant farmer’s market—my kind of place. We grabbed some delicious falafel and paella and some cheap smoothies and parked it on the beach.

The first Gaudi I laid eyes on
The first Gaudi I laid eyes on

After we were all thoroughly sunburned, we found our way back into the gothic part of town. Capped our day off with a dinner of tapas and white wine in a beautiful, small restaurant our friend’s recommended. Nothing like mussels to make a girl feel great. (That seems to be a recurring theme on this trip!)

Took a tour of the Gaudi creations with a cute Spanish woman—my traveling companions were instantly in love. Learned some fun facts: Gaudi died by being run over by a trolley, and because he looked like a homeless man no one offered to help him. The city’s solution was to outlaw trolleys (practical, Barca.)

After seeing all of the beautiful buildings from the outside, we had another picnic in the park (no cats this time). With Iberian ham in our bellies, we decided to commit to seeing the Sagrada Familia inside and out. The cathedral on the inside is almost futuristically beautiful.

Picnic in the park outside the Sagrada Familia
Picnic in the park outside the Sagrada Familia
Inside the Sagrada Familia
Inside the Sagrada Familia

Trekked over to the Park Guell, fell asleep on the famous tiled benches after a hike to the highest point at the park (had to get our tourist fix). Finally took our tired, sunburned selves back to the coast for a final dinner of sangria and paella. The entertaining waiter made street performers play songs for me and brought us a live lobster to crawl around, so it was basically like a kindergarten birthday party. Afterwards we found our way to an Irish pub to watch the Barcelona match. We wiled away the rest of the night reminiscing about our trip of a lifetime, and bracing ourselves for a return to the cold.

Hanging out at Parc Guell
Hanging out at Parc Guell
Do we have to leave?
Do we have to leave?
Traveling buddy Patrick with our Lobster
Traveling buddy Patrick with our Lobster

2 thoughts on “Follow the cats: Spring break edition”

  1. I think my favorite part of this blog entry was thinking of you three hiring cats as your tour guide! The food sounds and looks delicious also. Cool pic of you outside the Parthenon. Love you. -Mom

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