![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 1 DS2 4531 DL](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEbZMthD6P0/T96HFzTRkbI/AAAAAAAAF78/UNnHlG9W8BA/s640/DS2_4531_DL.png)
I know I probably should be moving on to other
summer topics but I am still crushing on
our Istanbul trip.
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 2 DS2 4514 DL](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axlJBR4xyvE/T96G55nrPpI/AAAAAAAAF70/Ik1N6IA2XoI/s640/DS2_4514_DL.png)
We had so many fantastic experiences
from cruising up the Bosphorus
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 3 DS2 4774](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tPZxvJ7EBZw/T96HG3kpnVI/AAAAAAAAF8E/58YRml1hnWI/s640/DS2_4774.jpg)
to having drinks on the top of The Marmara with
this incredible view
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 4 DS2 4970](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVYpHqRZuX0/T96HHsSr2lI/AAAAAAAAF8M/99MQwV5Gxmc/s640/DS2_4970.jpg)
and dinners with these incredible views.
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 5 DS2 5189 DL](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qnw9Ynoo_xM/T96HJNKwwBI/AAAAAAAAF8c/igJol7ujraI/s640/DS2_5189_DL.jpg)
We visited the Princes Island Buyukada, a popular summer destination,
where the only transport is bike or horse and wagon.
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 6 DS2 5245 DL](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv-7qfRND1w/T96HMc8_STI/AAAAAAAAF8k/-B3UC1DLGYM/s640/DS2_5245_DL.png)
We had lots of good wine
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 7 tempimage](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_6YzjZ63iY/T96HyAeo4UI/AAAAAAAAF9Y/j96ecMsb_JQ/s400/tempimage.jpg)
and food and deserts.
Fortunately, I only gained a pound or two!
Woot!
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 8 IMG 0602 DL](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2JU9lv211A/T96HSJ-CLPI/AAAAAAAAF9I/WYfiJQIFLwE/s400/IMG_0602_DL.png)
Perhaps my one regret is that I did not buy a Turkish rug while there.
This was the one I loved.
I should have bought it!
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 9 IMG 0560](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMmaj7DC6iM/T96HNw6Jp5I/AAAAAAAAF8s/E5vNG3cdQFU/s640/IMG_0560.jpg)
But perhaps the very best experience
was our Turkish bath!
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 10 IMG 0599](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-269RxgLlZj4/T96HQl_e2xI/AAAAAAAAF9A/c6Gj3BpQ4Bk/s400/IMG_0599.jpg)
On our last day there, our Turkish host invited us to their home for a Turkish breakfast
and then arranged for a Turkish bath or hamam at their private spa.
Ooh la la!
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 11 IMG 0596 DL](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NBzRn5FO9w/T96HPouWdcI/AAAAAAAAF84/AN-_Ifsxqes/s640/IMG_0596_DL.png)
We were treated like royalty and unfortunately I have no pictures of my own to share.
People get a little nervous in dressing rooms, saunas, and bathing rooms when
you drag cameras and iPhones out!
But this photo from the web is a fair representation of what goes on in the bath.
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 12 kusadasi turkish bath 03](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8mKlLzk4Hg/T96Y8lici6I/AAAAAAAAF9s/lZ7Fl4o2b7A/s400/kusadasi_turkish_bath_03.jpg)
It was an absolute treat once I got over my nakedness in front of the
two strangers who would bath The Professor and myself.
Our bodies were aggressively scrubbed from head to toe
while lying virtually naked upon a stone.
Turkish baths are not for the modest at heart!
Afterwards, we lounged in our robes in a large candle-lit spa-like room with over-sized sofas,
served a Turkish drink of some sort and expected to linger there as long
as we desired.
So we did!
It truly was an incredible experience and my skin has never felt so smooth and silky!
~~~
![Goodbye, Istanbul and Turkish baths 13 DS2 4587](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Hi9fjao3U/T96h2aqMSrI/AAAAAAAAF94/oIYyjOZPOGs/s640/DS2_4587.jpg)
Well, this pretty much wraps up our visit.
It was a beautiful and friendly country and sorry that
we didn’t have the time to travel outside of Istanbul to some other incredible sites.
And
so sorry for not buying that rug!
Hope your week gets off to a great start.
Later, my friends,
![DS2_4531_DL DS2 4531 DL](https://www.turkishnews.com/en/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DS2_4531_DL.png)
http://www.missingthemomgene.com/2012/06/goodbye-istanbul-and-turkish-baths.html