Tomorrow is my last full day here. Yesterday (friday) we had our last class which ended early because Said's graduation was at 1. The graduation was interesting considering we dont know turkish! So we clapped when they clapped and we stood when they stood. Rather interesting to be there even though Im use to only hearing turkish on a daily basis. After Saids graduation Pete Robyn Brittney and myself went to Taksim for Brittney to take some pics. We then were going to meet up with Kelsey and Miles at a restaurant that they and Brittney had been to before that has really good pasta apparently. Well we ended up wandering through all these twisting uphill and downhill streets that just looked like residential. Brittney couldnt remember if it was familiar and since the 3 of us had never been we didnt know anything. Some how a miracle happened right when we decided to give up and just go back into Taksim Brittney saw the entrance to the area the restaurant was in. BUT then the problem of what restaurant was it began. The area was just these two streets that combined like a T and was only restuarants and the seating is outside so they all blend together and there is no definate start and stop to each place. We sat down finally hopeing it was the right one and hopeing Miles and Kelsey would find us once they got there. We all ordered the same thing cheese and mushroom ravioli - which was amazing. Then Miles and Kelsey come and finally tell us that yes we were at the right place! It was a confusing night. After dinner me and Kelsey decided to stop in Bershka (a clothing store) and meet up with the others at the bar. We ended up staying out til around 1 and had to take a bus to Kadikoy since the ferrys dont run after a certain time. Then we had to take a cab back to campus cause those busses there dont run after 12. We got back at Yeditepe after 1 sometime not really sure. We had a nice laid back and casual night for our last friday here.

Today was packed and HOT. We started the day off by going to Dolmabahce Mosque which was gorgeous. The crystal chandelier was beautiful. Then we went to Dolmabahce Palace. This was if I remember correctly the last palace built by the Ottamans. Then it was lived in by Atatruk after the Sultans and the Ottamans were gone. The palace was pretty gaudy full of gold and crystals and everything. You could tell where all the last money of the Ottomans were put. After the palace we were planning on going to a museum but keeping with tradition of the trip it was closed. So we walked down to Yildiz park which is HUGE. We wanted to go there because in the park is a palace but go figure the way we entered the park is not the way to enter the palace. The park is so big and confusing that we decided against walking out and aound the park to go into the correct entrance of the park to enter the palace. Plus we were all so exhausted from the heat we were done. A group of us caught a ferry back to Kadikoy and took a bus back to Yeditepe (our last bus ever!) Later Colleen and I are going to meet up for dinner. Then tomorrow is free...basically a packing day. Then that evening we are going to our "last supper". Then monday morning at 7am we are leaving campus :(. I will for sure blog tomorrow about leaving and such. Which im not ready for yet.