"Yia sas" I said to the customs official at the Athens airport with a big smile on my face when I returned from Istanbul yesterday. I was happy to be home after an incredible trip with Colleen and Katie! We saw so much and got a good perspective on city life in Turkey. I was particularly struck by the blend of East and West, old and new that characterizes the city.

On our first day in the city on two continents we were immediately thrown into Istanbul's unique culture. We lost ourselves in the grand bazaar, enjoying a very sensory experience. Around every turn there was a new smell, sight, sound. When we finally made our way out onto the streets we were caught in the hustle and bustle of men moving giant packages on their backs, street vendors, and people rushing off in every direction. Out of all of this came a booming noise that enveloped the city; it was the call to prayer! I was amazed at this Muslim, Middle Eastern tradition. People did not drop everything they were doing to pray as one would expect in a Middle Eastern nation. It was interesting to learn that Turkey is secular despite it's Muslim majority. The blend between East and West was also evident in the combination of older, Ottoman buildings and new, Western style high rises. The commingling of Eastern and Western features gives Istanbul an approachable, but exotic air.

The mix of old and new elements in the city create a similar impression. Istanbul is highly modern with its garbage chutes, well organized public transportation, and energy saving technology. Yet there is evidence of the city's older roots all over. Historic buildings like the Topkapi palace and Blue mosque are displayed pridefully. I was in awe of the Blue Mosque's monumental exterior and sumptuous interior. The infinite rows of columns in the atmospheric Royal Cistern create the same effect. The Galata Tower on the city's newer side was built in 1348, but presents an incredible 36o degree view of all of the city's older and newer aspects. Perhaps the Hagia Sophia is most symbolic of Istanbul's juxtaposition of old and new. It is now a museum, but was formerly a church and then a mosque. It's still possible to see its layers: mosaic, covered by plaster, and then restored to showcase the building's different functions over time.

It was refreshing to visit a place so near Athens, but with some very different characteristics. We met many international travelers and Turks who were excited to share their opinions on the European economic crisis and it was great to exchange ideas with them. It was a fantastic trip and a terrific learning experience capped by the feeling that I was returning home when landing in Athens!