Palaces and Turkish Baths!

So today was eventful. We woke up super early for an SAS trip and headed out to see 4 palaces from the Ottoman Empire. Two on the European side of Istanbul and two on the Asian side of Istanbul (which is a strange but cool conundrum). The first one was massive. It poured on us while we waited to get in, but it was worth it. They gave us little pink shoe covers to wear through it (which was cute). The place was intense. We saw the biggest chandeliers I’ve ever seen, and even the room where the Attaturk died. Just to give you an idea, Attaturk was the leader of the Turkish Empire after WWI in the 20’s. This man revolutionized Turkey. He’s all over their monuments. He’s on their currency. There are paintings of him everywhere. His people call him Attaturk because it means the Father of the Turks. Seeing the room that he died in is like looking at the theater and room where Lincoln died for the US. Beyond that, the palace itself was amazing. Absolutely huge and grand. The chaise lounges and the beds were intense. The Harem was nice too. The royalty is addressed as the Sultan and Queen Mother, but the Harem wasn’t like a brothel for the king. Harem itself means forbidden and the harem was a forbidden place for others to enter because it housed the Sultan’s private life. Interesting.
Anyway, the other three palaces were very nice as well. At one stop we were accosted (too strong a word, more like engaged) by a big group of Turkish tourists who were interested in talking to us and the Asians in our group. We told them we were from France. Lol.
It rained off and on all day. Turkish weather is a little nutty, though our tour guide said it was a little different than was normal. It’s usually a bit drier I guess. Lol. We brought the rain.
After we got back to the ship we had a quick bite to eat and headed out again to meet with Garrett and Lauren. We brought Yulia and her friend Alisa with us too. We met at the Turkish bath, and headed in!
Ok. Let me explain this process:
First, the men and women separate. The women go downstairs and the men go up. You get a little locker and change into some swim suit bottoms and a towel. Then you go down another flight of stairs and enter into a hot room with a huge marble slap in the middle. You basically take off your towel and lay on it on an edge of the slab. An old, really fat, and topless woman comes to you and douses you with cold water. Then she takes a scrubber and rubs you down, your back and your front, your whole front if you know what I mean. Then they soap you up in the same process. Then they take you to a sink and shampoo your hair and rinse your body of all the soap. This takes about twenty minutes, and you see all the dead skin coming off your body. Next you go into a little hot room and sit in the “Bath” or Hamami”. The water is warm, but not as bad as the air. There’s also a hot tub, which is nice. Note that at this time, you are still topless in the water surrounded by your friends who you now know a lot better. Then you go outside of the hot room and cool down a bit with some warmed towels. You drink a freshly squeezed orange juice or something similar.
Next, you wait in line for your oil massage. You go in, are slathered in oil, and then rubbed down and felt up again, vigorously, front to back. Next, you shower in the huge shower that has a spout right in the center of the roof and goes straight down. You cool off for a bit in the cooler room. Then you go back in the bath and talk for a bit with your girlfriends.
It’s a nice experience. Everyone says that you have to do it, or you haven’t experienced Turkey, and I think I agree. I loved it. I adored it, I want to do it every day we’re here! Lol. But we have other things to do. Unfortunately…. ☺
Ate a quick dinner afterward and made it home. What a day. My skin is wonderful feeling, and I’m totally relaxed. Sleepin good today!