Full on!

Day two in this teeming city of anywhere from 10-15 million people! And everything about it surely is full on. My day started with an introduction by Eric (the American yoga teacher on staff at Yogasala) on how to get to one of the newer yoga studios. There are three, and so far I've only taught at the original one. This 2nd one, is in Etiler, which is a bit out from the central city. Since I hate to rack up the cab fares (not to mention I'm SCARED to ride with these crazy cab drivers) I wanted to learn how to get out there using public transportation. See Stan, I'm always trying to save you money! So Eric and I walked up Istiklal, stopping at one of the three Starbucks on the maybe 3/4 of a mile long strip. In general yoga people are caffeine fiends and the Turks drink coffee almost as much as they smoke cigarettes, so you can only imagine.

At Taksim Square, we descended to the Metro station, the Istanbul subway. We rode almost to the last stop, then walked several blocks to get a cab. The walk isn't necessary, there ARE cabs, but if you get a cab at the Metro stop, it is going in the wrong direction and has to circle around to get going in the correct direction. So, by walking several blocks you save a few Lira. There I go again, saving Stan money. So, I have these notes that read like this, "Out of Metro station, turn left. Walk to the big car bill board past the construction then turn left. Walk to the end of that street throught the little square, then turn right." And so on. Get the point? It's real specific.

After several of these twists and turns we pop in to Eric's 2nd stop en route, a Turkish bakery for three pogacas. They are delightful little bakery delicacies. Savory, not sweet. This guy, who can't weigh 150 lbs has already nailed a Starbuck's big-as-your-head muffin. THEN we hail a cab. When I get in the cab I am supposed to make sure the cab driver knows how to get to Kortel (How am I supposed to do this? Cab drivers do not speak English, and you know what I don't speak.) Or if that fails, we go straight, one right turn, then straight again. Yeah, right.

Once out at the studio, it is lovely. It is high above the Bosphorus, on what used to be an organic farm. It's a nice break from the pace of the city. Then I get my butt kicked.

I hadn't practiced since Andy and I practiced on Thursday, not to mention the plane ride, so I was pretty stiff. And Eric is basically an Ashtanga purest. He is a student of Manju Jois. We did the primary series in a teeny room with probably 20 students, no air, no fans, no open windows, even though all were available. I'm sure he is trying to recreate Mysore. And it was awesome! Luckily for me he cut me some slack, knowing I was coming off jet lag.

After class, I shared a cab with Mina, one of the students I knew from 2006. We rode to Kanyon, a cool new shopping center. Not a boring suburban shopping center, but an open air, neat architechture shopping center swarming with people. We had multiple lattes (more coffee!) and good conversation. Starting to get weary I pushed on home.

Back to the subway, back to Istiklal street(shown above in a NON-busy time), which is a pedistrian walkway, except cars and trams are allowed. I told you it was full on. They beep or honk or whatever, right before they run you over. But it's the people that amaze you. There are THRONGS of people walking up and down this street. You can barely manuver. It's pretty cool.

Once home at the Pera Rose, I watched the sun set over the Golden Horn, relaxed in the hotel's hamam (Turkish bath) then ordered room service with all the money of Stan's I saved. I'm beat.