Araf Returns

I slept in and looked at the overcast weather. Today was one of two days I had to switch house again. When I had arrived at this place, I was only "booked" for a few days cause they had another couple people coming to stay for Wednesday and Thursday. Now it was Wednesday, but I had been too lazy to start sending requests so I looked up a few hostels and went on the hunt.

I had walked by one the night before, so I asked them the price. I was searching for this one Floh had told me about, but it was impossible to find. I asked about three other people before going into a different hostel, asked prices, and then asked where the other one was. It was very close! This place was also cool, but more expensive, farther away, and less busy. I decided on the closest one which also happened to be cheaper.

While I was meandering down the main street I was also shopping! I had been looking at souvenirs to get while walking up the night before, so now I had an idea of what to buy and made some purchases :) Usually I didn't get to go souvenir shopping because of the space limit thing, so it felt satisfying.

I walked all the way back to the apartment after shopping, and rested. It was uphill getting back. Once I felt able to walk with all my gear I set out towards the hostel. There was a cs meeting that night so I would see everyone then :)

I arrived and started organizing my stuff. There was a locker to lock my bag which was nice! I locked up my stuff, went for food, and vegged on the computer which seemed to be what everyone else in the hostel was doing as well. It was like a little internet cafe, but with nice mood lighting, funky decorations, and good music. No one was really talking much though which was weird.

Eventually it was time to leave for this meeting. I hadn't been to a proper one in Istanbul and I figured it would be big and lively! It was close by, so I walked down to check it out. It was empty. That didn't seem right. There should be at least one person, so I went walking around, had a chocolate cake thing and some tea. An hour later I came back and it was the same! They were just starting Big Fish though, so I sat and had a beer and started watching. I was pretty bummed out that I wasn't partying away like I thought I would be, but then I got a text from Jen saying they were ditching the CS meeting (which turned out to be in a different bar, I had gotten the place wrong somehow) and going to Araf.

I had been to Araf with Gulsah on my first night out, so I knew that was a good time! I started asking the bar people how to get there, and only then did I discover that the few people sitting beside me were actually really nice. Things were turning around. One of them was going near the bar and offered to walk me there. Paolos was outside trying to get in without a female (not working) and I showed up with this other guy and got us all in :)

There was a live band playing, people were dancing, drinking beer, and having a good time. I was stoked on the music, and ended up talking to the person that had walked me there for quite a while. He knew dubstep, and dj'd around town. We talked music for a while, etc. Jen was going back to Canada the next day, so the group slowly left piece by piece. I'd met the couple staying with Jen and Co; they were fun people. Eventually it was down to me and the dj. We danced for a while longer, until I decided I was tired and should go back to my hostel.

He was nice enough to walk me back to the hostel since it was late :) I got in safe and sound and talked to the night staff a little while I pounded water. It was pretty late/early so I tried not to drunkenly make lots of noise climbing onto the top bunk, but failed miserably. Poor roommates.