My accidental tourist spirit is willing, but the body stubbornly resists leaving Pacific Daylight Time.  And this in spite of the full moon over Istanbul and the 80% humidity, or maybe because of it.

Istanbul is a study in contrasts.  It has a “European” side and an “Asian” side.  I have never heard any of the locals refer to Istanbul, or Turkey, as the Middle East.  I arrived in Turkey knowing that it was the Middle East, and now find that knowledge highly questionable.  At the same time, there is Old Istanbul and new Istanbul.  I am now in a hotel in Old Istanbul (and by the way, the Turkish spell the city with a small i) and enjoying it very much.  This city is reminiscent of San Francisco in many ways: rolling hills, a bay, houses tucked into the hills, and lots of fish restaurants. 

The Bay of Bosphorus has two bridges that connect the European and Asian side, and they look a bit like the Golden Gate Bridge, although not painted red.  The water in the Bay is a midnight blue with a very slight green tinge.  Bosphorus Bay, like San Francisco Bay, is filled with ferries of tourists, fishing boats and sailboats.

On Saturday, I saw palaces, mosques, and even a fortress.  The city’s population (20 million, I’m told) is largely Muslim, but there is a decidedly European and very western feel to things.  At least half of the people I’ve seen, mostly men, smoke cigarettes.  I haven’t seen this much smoking since the 1970’s.  I’ve also seen a lot of beer drinking, and lots of Turkish women in skinny jeans, skimpy tops and uncovered heads.  Everyone seems to be in a rush, and I believe there is lots of money to be made and spent.

I’ve spent all of my time on the European side; hopefully, before I continue on to Saudi Arabia, I will see the Asian, and much less European, side of Turkey.