Turkish Blue Eye - 2009 vacation part 1

After almost 20 hours of travel, we finally landed in Istanbul from LAX. Hotel has free shuttle. We met a few others from Missouri that going to the same cruise and stay in the same hotel at the airport. The large van is just right size for all of us. It was very crowded going out from the airport. I don't think I would dare to drive in Turkey. The road is wide enough for 3 cars but there were 5. I did not see divider line on the road. How could I? There were just a few inches between cars. And there were so many changing lanes too. I was very nervous sitting in front of the van but the driver was very cool. It took forever to get out of the airport. Roads were not as bad after that. Then I saw a big mosque. The driver told us it was the Blue Mosque. We saw the famous Hagia Sophia on the other side of the van. I knew we were very close to the hotel. Driver told us that the hotel is on a pedestrian only street. We all carried our luggage walking with him. The wheels of our luggage made loud novices on the cobble stone street.

The street was very busy. There were restaurants along sides. There were also water pipe smoking stores, and coffee shops. Tables lined up. There were all kinds of chairs with colorful large thick cushions. It was time for dinner. There were many tourists browsing the menus each restaurants put out. Every restaurant manager were trying hard to convince people to go in. They did not even ignore us with luggage walking by. We all got all sorts of business cards. They also say "Ni hao" (How are you in Chinese) to us.

Passing a few restaurants, we have reached our hotel. Manager had each family/group resting in several lobby sofa. Fruit juice and Turkish candy were served while the manager went through the check-in details with each group. He had given us detailed information on hotel facilities and breakfast buffet. Our rooms included the breakfast buffet. He also gave each of us a blue eye pin. This was the first time I have seen "blue eye". We all asked what is it. He explained that it brings good luck to us. We asked more about it but with language limitation, he was notable to explain more. I have search online after we came back. This is what I have found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye_in_Turkish_Culture

We went out looking for food after settled in our rooms. The restaurant manager across were very warm asking us in. Well, we liked to explore a little bit first. I knew seafood is good in Istanbul. We went to a restaurant with colorful image of their dishes on the menu. It is easier to order when we can see what it looks like. The grilled sea bass was delicious. We had Turkish tea after meal. It was very relaxing sitting in the open restaurant looking at the street.

We walked around near by after dinner. Every gift shops have all kinds of blue eye. Turkey is also famous for their carpet, leather goods, and China. Their originally were imitating Chinese China after they got them from the silk road. Gradually they have developed own designs. There are lots of beautiful designs. It is too bad that China is too difficult to carry. We bought a couple small China magnets with landmarks of Istanbul.