Last Bit on Turkey

With the trip having been almost two weeks ago, this is my last post on Turkey. 

We went on an academic visit to see the Greek Orthodox School in the center of Istanbul. In 1923 there were over 2,000 students at the school, in 1973 there were 1,090 students, and today there are only 45. They only accept Greek Orthodox students with Turkish nationality and without approval from the Turkish government they aren't allowed to welcome anyone else. As can be assumed, their main struggle is to keep the school open, trying to welcome as many Greek students as that they can find. Their school building is phenomenal. It is seven stories high and reminds me of the children's book Wayside School, without the missing floor. The ceilings are incredibly high, the building has beautiful old architecture, and there is (like all Istanbul buildings seem to have) a fantastic view from the top.

Next on the agenda was visiting a poorer area of Istanbul on the outskirts of the city. We visited with an organization called Mavi Kalem who help support migrant families that have moved from the rural areas of foreign countries or Turkey and later were given a tour of the town. I had my camera tucked away as we walked by the obviously poverty stricken areas, however I pulled it out for the market and walk by the water. 

After the tour we marched onward (extremely fatigued and using all the energy we had left) to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. Astounding. 

The next day we went to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. It was crazy. With over 5,000 shops and between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors a day, crazy probably doesn't even begin to describe it. I didn't try to bring my camera out, I was too overwhelmed. However, I had to take a picture at one of my favorite shops were I bargained my butt off and got a great deal for a beautiful hand-painted plate.