Nightlife and Dirty Clothes

This weekend we experienced the nightlife in Istanbul (finally!). Thursday we went to a club called Discorium with the group of Americans we have been hanging out with. This guy who is apparently really rich and owns a bunch of nargile places and is also in love with Americans pretty much made us VIP at the club and then took us back to his nargile place and fed us cheeseburgers, french fries, waffles with nutella and bananas, and tea. Friday we made plans to go shopping down at Taksim, a big shopping/restaurant/bar/club area with Jackie, who is an exchange student from LA. We met up with the rest of the crew down here and had dinner at a traditional Ottoman restaurant. Jackie came to Istanbul in January to take a language course, so she knows some Turkish and a lot about the city. She's been super helpful with everything from finding good shopping to getting in to fun nightclubs. Anyways, down at Taksim we met with Ozgur, our new Turkish friend, who took our entire group out to a different club in this area. This one was more pricey, especially because it was a Friday, but it was alot of fun. However... Sarah lost her purse here so we spent all of today on a quest, but happily it has been found! We're being lame tonight even though we are on the guest list for this other club. Losing, then finding the purse was stressful, so instead we sleep.

On the purse quest we had a hilarious taxi driver who spoke about 2 words in English. He drove us all the way to the square for only 5 Lira, which is much less than we planned to spend. But there was a catch: he wanted us to go to the club with him. I spent the 20 minute cab ride imitating dancing, saying "yok" and "hayir" (both negations), and jabbing my finger at my purse and then saying "nerede? nerede?" (where?). I don't think he got it, but whatever, he wouldn't stop talking in Turkish. He definitely liked us... And then on the train ride home I was told that I looked 100% American. I am so obvious, haha.

So now that we have tramped all around this city (even the Asian part!) my clothes are getting disgusting. I can't decide if I want to use the laundry service they have at the dorm... I have heard horror stories of clothes being shredded. I think I'll trust some jeans and sheets but Sarah and I are planning on washing some stuff in the bathroom sink. We are so lame, but are clothes are even more dirty...