The Shirt Off His Back.

So, the term is over...and for our last night in Istanbul, we had a really gourmet meal at a restaurant in the Ortakoy area of the city, which looks onto the Bosphorus River. The food was terrific, and the surroundings quite snazzy. Upon first inspection of the restaurant, I noticed the polo shirts the waiters were wearing, and decided to inquire if they had a gift shop with them. Our waiter, who was quite a jokster with great English, said jokingly they do not have any for sale, but he would sell his to me if I wanted it. We all laughed about it, and he went away to take orders elsewhere. After his departure we all joked about how funny it would be if he was serious, and I bought the shirt off his back. Well...I did...sorta. Turns out he had his back-up with him, and after the girls told him how much to sell it to me for (which was all of the remainder of my Turkish Lire). One last souvenir.

On Monday of this week, our professor took us on a boat ride up the Bosphorus. Being on the boat was almost as good as Capri, and it gave us a really different perspective of the architecture and city life of Istanbul. It was certainly a highlight of the term for me. We spent a few hours laying on the bough, looking up at the clear evening sky, with the stars slowly appearing.

I am currently in the Frankfurt airport, after 3 flights today, awaiting my last into Barcelona. The receptionist at check-in told me she had never seen so many flights to get to a place so close before. I love being the first.