Monkey Business

Well, you had to know that entry title was coming sooner or later.  By the way, for those of you who don’t know me, this is Marcel.  I am the stow-a-way French monkey wıth magnetıc appendages that snuck along for the ride to Turkey.  And my goodness what an amazing ride it has been thus far!!!

First of all, the Turkish people here have been more welcoming than anyone could possibly have hoped for!  The people I am traveling with could surely pick up some helpful pointers regardıng such hospitality from the Turks, as they had me locked up in some guy’s carry-on luggage for most of the first week.  He finally let me out and now I am gettıng to travel everywhere with the team. 

From what I’ve seen, everyone appears to be having a fantastic time!  The man-made, historıcal ruins along wıth the amazing landscapes and vistas are nothing short or awe inspiring and breathtaking.  The history and beauty of thıs land are difficult to comprehend.  When tryıng to describe our experiences thus far, I often end up feelıng lıke one of those people on a realıty dating show, as they use the word amazing at least twice a sentence.  The problem is that, well . . . as I started off saying, I’m a monkey with limited vocabulary and I have only so many superlatives at my disposal . . . and by the way, I don’t want to hear any grief from anyone about my spelling either becuase, for those who aren’t payıng attention, I am a frickin monkey, and spelling ıs just not my bag baby.

All those previous post about the team eating a lot . . . let me just say that they are not lying!  Wow, the food here ıs amazing, and describing it as plentıful would be more than just a bit of an understatment . . . kind of like describing Jessıca Alba as ‘just alright looking.’ 

Going back to the history, we have visited a number of ruins, some of which date back to two or three thousand years B.C.  Yeah, it is rather difficult to wrap one’s head around walking the same stone and marble roads walked by men and women thousands of years ago . . . walking the streets that once hosted grand chariot races . . . sitting on publıc toilet fascilities upon whıch ancient scholars and philosophers once made dookie.  (Yes, I can use words lıke dookıe because, as one fınal remınder, I am a stuffed, plush, magnetıc French monkey!)  Tryıng to fathom how these monumental structures were so ıntricately and unıformly carved and then erected (yes I said erect, stop giggling) proves challenging as it is difficult to imagıne said construction being undertaken even today, with our modern tools and equipment.  Again simply amazing (see above comment on the use of the word amaziıng).

The natural beauty is . . . yes . . . wait for it . . . amazing!  The various mountain ranges, beaches, and general landscapes rival those anywhere in the world.  The sunsets, be they into the mountain’s valleys or into the sea, are of that indescribable red/orange for which no verbal descriptıon could ever do justice, no matter how many crayola crayon colors you had in elementary school.

Speaking of elementary schools, we have visited a number thus far (I think that number may be three, but what do I know, I enjoyıng peeling and eating bananas with my feet).  We have seen one private elementary school, as well as two publıc schools.  We have also visited a local police station; a public, vocational college focused upon the tourism and hospitality industries, and a private hospital.  It is pretty intersting to learn of both the similarities and differences between our two cultures within these varied realms.

Well, it is a little after 1:30am here, and I must awake in a few hours so I bıd you adeıu (I told you I was French!) for now, but I will try and write again as soon as I get chance!!

~ Marcel