Day 143 - Istanbul Archeological Museum



Friday, November 23rd, 2018.

 We have moved our schedule to get up at 8:00am. It is too dark outside and seems that everyone starts late anyway. We told Sunshine that she could do homework at night but we wanted to get to the Archeology Museum early. It takes us 10 minutes to walk to the Metro. We took the funicular and then we have to pay again to connect with another metro. The cost is almost the same as taking a taxi but with traffic, it can be faster to take the metro. 

 We made it to Sultanhamet around 10:00ish and we were getting into the museum around 10:30am which was fine because it wasn't crowded at all. The main building is closed for restoration so we couldn't see the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great or the other major attractions. I'm not sure why Alexander is here but he is and couldn't see him!

 We covered different buildings and eras. We also saw a lot of sarcophagi, Egyptian and other. I think the kids enjoyed this part. Daniel got excited and called me to read some Greek letters written on the mosaics of the floor. I could read "Perseus."

 Sunshine was engaged by the dozens of cuneiform tablets which were all well explained and translated. It was so interesting that we actually spend almost all day at the museum. We took a lunch break because we were starving. It always gets worse when we have to decide where to eat. And even worse when it's a tourist area because everything is overpriced and under quality. It is overpriced but that's what you have to pay when you are in a touristy area!!! We walked and looked at different kind of menus and couldn't find anything priced decently. 

 We finally agreed to eat in a restaurant where we ate for around  30TL each which I honestly don't think is expensive, it is like $6. Which is cheap, compared to home, so I think that's fine to pay. but Gregory is worried that if we pay that every day, we will blow our budget before we're done with our trip. By the way, Gregory and I have different target budgets. He thinks I'm crazy because of course mine is about $30,000 higher but I based mine on what we had heard from the other family who did a similar trip!

 After lunch, we went back to the museum to cover the last building. Actually, Gregory wanted to go back. I kind of did but I believe that you should spend the amount of time that brings you pleasure, not more. The kids lasted through the first floor, where we saw the snake head from the Greek column in the Hippodrome and the base of the Tetrarch sculpture that was looted by the Venetians during the 4th Crusade and is now outside San Mark's Basilica.

 Daniel was done so I gave him my phone and sat him in a lounge. I enjoyed reading about Troy, since we decided not to go there. Sunshine seemed to enjoy herself at looking at the jewelry and other objects found in the Trojan excavations. Around 4:30 we got kicked out of the museum, thank God otherwise Gregory, who claims not to like museums, would have stayed longer. [Gregory's note: I was done.]

 At the exit, we bought the kiddos simit with Nutella. The simit looked much better than it tasted and they are not warm -- oh, what a disappointment! Oh, well. We took the metro back home. I collapsed. I love museums but they drain me! I rested my eyes for 15 minutes even though it was late and then got up to prepare dinner. 

 Afterward, we tried to find a movie we could all agree on. This is another hard part of the trip. First of all, because the internet connection is intermittent at best, and slow when it works. But the hardest thing is to agree on a movie! It takes 40 minutes and by the time we agree, it's too late to start. Any family movie suggestions are always welcome.

 Sunshine and I watched The Notebook, which made me cry a lot. Gregory didn't care, he is always busy with his research and Daniel is loving the Maze Runner series. He has read 5 books in a week!

 I love my kids, they are doing great considering that they haven't had any social time with friends for almost 6 months! Me, on the other hand, I miss my book club friends, my Latina friends, and my Brunch Bunch friends terribly! Hugs to all of you in case you are reading this blog!


I saw pictures of this Babylonian wall in my Art History book in High School and now I got to see the real ones, I was thrilled!
Musicians
Kadesh Treaty, very impressive!

Can you imagine?!

Turkish field trip. How awesome to learn with the originals!
Babylonian walls from 800BC




Seriously, booping a noseless monument?
They ave so many extra pieces they can't fit them all in an exhibit so they are outside!





i love the lighting in this picture

This medallion of Medusa sat in a corner for about 50 years until someone realized it was worth displaying. You can still see some of the red color in the hair and the black on the eyes.
The guard
The Crystal Palace, part of the museum complex


Beautiful interior of the Crystal Palace










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