Istanbul to Dusseldorf

So i think i last left you when Josh was getting a Turkish massage.. well he said it was quite an experience, apparently u sit in this 50 degree sauna for a while before they massage you.. as if it isn´t hot enough already?? and for some reason they gave him the real Turkish massage, not the "foreigner" one.. and a turkish man already in the hamman got offended? you gotta ask josh for the details.. all in know is that he sweat buckets.. hehe-
So our last day in Istanbul we headed to a district called Beyoglu - this is supposedly the place to go if u want to see a million Turks in a day.. and boy were they right! now this is what i thought Istanbul was going to be.. super busy, so many different stores lining the street, food vendors, buskers, basically your regular gong show.. We fought thru the crowds really loving every minute of it.. it was super interesting- in 1 km. we saw about 4 burger kings and about 4 starbucks.. we caved in and got a frappacino at starbucks.. and yep, it tastes the same!
So we took advice from a couple we met in Selcuk and made reservations at this seafood restaurant that had 36 different vegetarian appy´s.. this was going to be our last meal in Turkey, so we really did it up.. had wine and skewers of fish (black scorpian.. is that even a fish??)- this restuarant overlooked most of Istanbul and we watched the sun go down enjoying everz bit of our turkish white wine. After dinner we made our way to Nevizdade, a street lined with bars, and there was literally hundreds, possibly a thousand people drinking on these outdoor patios, just enjoying life.. it was a sight to see!
After our long walk home we again ended our last night with of courses, backgammon and a hookah.. although we were sad to leave turkey we were excited to go to germany and to experience that culture.. josh had been last summer, but i have never been, and being 1/4 German, i think it will be really interesting to "fit" in in a foreign place.. as for the most part i am easily pointed out as a "tourist" with my long blonde hair and all 6´1 of me.. and as i thought, i was right! Dusseldorf is really neat, and i don´t get stared at.. not in the slightest.. i have actually seen girls who could be my sister! Josh is relieved i think- now he can stop staring down the men who would oogle my legs and shoulders..
The down side is tho, is that it is about 12 degrees here.. and yes we complained about the heat.. i know, but we are not prepared to be in such cold weather.. i didnt bring pants. and my "jacket" is a light long sleeved shirt.. does that mean shopping??? haha- as it turns out, yes.. we actually had a fabulous first day wandering the streets of Dusseldorf and shopping! We also would pop in and out of these beer houses "sampling" the beer.. and are excited to go back tonight. I think we are going to catch a train to Cologne tomorrow as it is about 25 min. away, and explore this town.. so all in all- it´s crazy to think that yesterday we were in Turkey- we are really enjoying the "western" part of this trip.. eating familiar foods etc.

We will be home on Sunday.. i can´t believe that.. but we have such exciting things ahead.. 2 weeks till a fabulous wedding and then Josh and i head to Mexico to build a house- my dad used to do it every year, so we thought it very appropriate to both go this year as newlyweds!

I will write one last blog before we come home.. we are looking forward to coming home to vancouver and being able to catch up with u guys!