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DAY 3: This day started with the tour guide telling us that we were going to make a surprise stop at an orphanage that Gate1 (the tour company) was making a donation to.  Upon arrival at the “orphanage” (picture the air quotes as you read this)  the first thing out of director’s mouth was “this is not an orphanage, we take little poor children who meet “specific” requirements from their families, do not allow the families to have contact with their children, and give them a new “family”.  We’re unsure if it was a cult or a sweatshop, but one of the other people on the tour screamed out “CULT” as soon as we got on to the bus (this man is affectionately referred to as Elmo, as he has a VERY high pitch voice).  Today’s program was brought to you by the letters C – U – L and the letter T.

After the whole bus was completely freaked out, we quietly made our way by ferry across the Dardanelles, ladies and gentlemen (and yes, we convinced the captain to let me ring the bell)

We stopped and toured Troy (after a LOOONNNGGG explanation to those on the bus who had apparently never heard of Troy, not in school, not in literature, not in the movies, seriously had no clue what we were going to tour, weird!)

This is the day we started on the bus tour, there are 34 of us in total, along with our tour guide.  At the orientation meeting one woman spoke up and asked if people could restrain from peeling or eat oranges on the bus.  The tour guide also told us to be sure to carry water with us for the ride as we would be stopping approx. every 2 hours and you might get thirsty.  A woman asked how much water the bus could hold, the tour guide said he was getting concerned as to the nature of her inquiry since the bus could probably carry a ton of water, but we should remember we could get water as we went and maybe we would not need to carry that much.

The first announcement of the morning when we all boarded the bus and were on our way, was to the effect of "I have something funny to tell you, well, no not funny, serious, but well, you see, ladies and gentlemen, it is orange season in Turkey, they are the most delicious oranges you will ever taste, they are everywhere and you have got to try them..." (at which point we start cracking up laughing because it sounds like he's about to say, so I got some for everyone!  You get an orange, and you get an orange and you get an orange!)  But of course he says "but don't forget you cannot have oranges on the bus, but you must try them, ladies and gentlemen".  Yes, he says ladies and gentlemen A LOT!  (That should answer many of your questions as to why I keep repeating this phrase... ladies and gentlemen)  And as for Orange Lady, I, if anyone, understands dietary restrictions, but she's just weird, having nothing to do with the oranges, she's just strange!! 

And as far as nicknames go, we have the two men sitting in front of us, Elmo and Cookie Monster, you know how Elmo got his name, his friend has the deepest, raspiest smokers voice I've ever heard, listening to them talk together sounds like a Seseme Street episode.