It’s been an eventful weekend so far.  Last night we had dinner and drinks at a friend’s amazingly beautiful villa on the Asian side, just across the Bosphorous.  Their villa was seriously just like you walked into an architechtual design dream.  From the top floor of the villa there is an amazing view of the Bosphorous and the European side (where we live).  Yes I should have taken a picture to share… sorry.  Or maybe a video would have been better so you could hear how last night when the mosques sounded their call to prayer at 9:45p, how it seemed as if we were center-point of like 10 mosques.  That is, and I’m sure will always be, a very unique Istanbul experience for me.  Video next time, I promise.

The night was perfect, the moon just about full, weather perfect, super yummy Turkish cuisine, cocktails, late night swimming, and meeting a whole new group of people – Turks and Americans.  And it turns out one of the couples lives right next to us.  I can see us hanging out with this crew a lot, and hope that we do.  

And today was just another day at the beach today… well not really.  Today I swam in the Black Sea for the first time.  I’ve seen the Black Sea before from a boat trip up the Bosphorous, but this is the first time swimming in it.  This trip to the beach there – Burc Beach – also marked our first beach trip since living here.  

The Black Sea is different from other Turkey beaches I’ve been to.  The sand is more brown, the water is warmer, and there are pretty strong waves and a healthy undertow.  It’s a very nice beach, but I think I prefer the crisp, clear water of Cesme beaches.  This beach was unique though because since it is the Black Sea, you can look out and see all of the ships waiting to go through the Bosphorous Straight.  It’s really a cool sight – see pics below. 

I have to tell you though, it was a really tough day.  Sitting in our beach cabana, having someone bring us drinks and food all day, hanging with friends, swimming and jumping into the crashing waves… ahh this is the life.