Good-Bye Istanbul

Antique Hostel Terrace
Originally uploaded by kden604.

As I mentioned before I've been staying at the Antique Hostel in Istanbul, Turkey which is just two blocks from the Blue Mosque and the main tourism hub. The hostel has been really great with very friendly staff and a nice relaxing breakfast with a view each morning.

The dorm rooms have 6 people per room, which is quite normal for most hostels, there is 3 rooms in the basement which are generally quite quiet. There are three showers and two bathrooms that are cleaned at least once a day, quite often twice.

I recommend staying here if you make a backpackers budget visit to Istanbul, if you stay for an extended time (5 nights or more) you can bargin the price to about 15 TYL or 8 Euro per night including breakfast.

There are no lock out hours, bottled water is priced at normal city standards and there is also free Internet usage as well as wi-fi in the hostel.

So enough with the pro-hostel movement...

I'm heading to Ankara tonight, which I wasn't able to find any hostels at all in the guide books or online, it's not exactly a tourist city... Far from it, it's the political centre and Capital of Turkey. The only major draw for most backpackers and tourists is for resolving Visa issues at the Embassies and a rather famous museum, which is supposed to just spectacular.

Last night I met up with some of the Masonic Brethren and had the most fabulous meal and saw the sights. I couldn't believe when we arrived at the two lodges I had walked by them several times in the last week. I've got some pictures but I won't be able to upload them this morning from this location.

I also tried Turkish Raki last night which is a very strong drink that tastes somewhat like Ouzo. Normally when you get it, it comes in a have filled glass and you add a couple ice cubes and then water. Normally it is a clear liquid until you add water and it instantly goes hazy white, somewhat like the look of Vodka Coolers.

So today I'm going to bum around the hostel, surf the web... I'll head to Asia (tee-hee) around 6 pm I believe. My train leaves at 2200 but I think I'll just head over early to revel in the fact I'm in Asia.

The weather is poor today, a light drizzle of rain... Perfect traveling weather, I don't mind if it rains while I'm on a train.

More information on Freemasonry in Turkey will be coming up on my Masonic Blog in the next couple of days. I want to post a picture or two I need to wait until the connection is a little bit better.