Bukkade (Prince's Island)

So Benito woke up that day, finally, after trying to wake up early on a Reconnaisance mission to Sulatanehmet, which got cancelled last minute so that Benito could go on and accomplish Plan A. That was, to travel to the island, as the Turks call it, of Bukkade, or Prince's Island, as the Brits know it. He gathered up his belongings, as it was the last day in Kadikoy, and made his way, after having his Starbucks bag broke. So he gathered up all his perfumes and put them in his coat pockets in preparation for the pilgrimage to come... That was a powerful moment indeed for as the cookies broke, Benito found his strength and decided to march on for the feribot station, dodging Turks as he went and saying "no, thank you" to the pamphlets as he walked on by... Finally he came to some edifice on the docks and found it to be a playhouse and not the feribot station, so on he went on his merry way, making his way through the rain to the actual station. And that was all well and good, but he found that he needed to wait for reinforcements, so wait he did, regarding a statue of a handsome Turk holding forth the fishes and the bloody Turkish flag in the background. But then Benito observed a second sight of seagulls and a Turkish bitch berating her mate as they walked on by the feribot station, as Benito observed, sipping his juice. But then the main attraction came into sight, for Benito had to pick up some more cash... As he did so, he was apprehended by yet another young Turk, selling his wares, or rather some clothing. Soon Benito found himself with yet more paraphenalia on his person, including mits, hat, and ear-muffs. That was all well and good, but then he had an umbrella put in his hand for an extra ten lira, which he promptly left on the boat... oh, well. For now he was just glad to get on the boat to Bukkade, even though it was the "slow feribot".

Disembarking from the vessel, he made for the clock tower, just as the guidebooks had told him, and found himself amidst the school children, who had gotten out for vacation, back home again lickety-split! But as for Benito, he was still on his pilgrimage and found himself befriending cats as he set off on his journey. There were horse-carriages nearby, including a single Turkish gal. Benito wondered if she was coming from the St. George Callisse. Coming around, he stopped to ask a man on his motorbike about the way, and was directed in the proper direction, so off he went as the rain came down and a jogger passed him by as well. Then Benito encountered some Iraqi tourists, who were very pleased to meet Benito and asked where he was from. Benito was a little taken aback at first to say the least, but felt fortunate to meet them as well. Unfortunately, they could not help, being merely tourists, but Benito continued along to ask a worker nearby about the way to the mountain top, and he assured him that it was just around the next bend, so on he went.

The park of Bukkade looked like some tropical forest, but Benito did not stop at the pensione as the guidebooks suggested, but continued on his way. His card to Steve Huber almost falling by the wayside, but the view of the top could be seen and so he continued on his way! He was tempted by the restaurant nearby at the fork in the road, but Benito continued along, for he would have a ferry to catch. This was a cobbled stone road and Benito took pleasure in the path, for it was very nice and the views were quite something, going up, up, up, until coming finally to the monastery on top. There was nobody in the immediate vicinity as Benito looked at the scene around and observed the views of the shores down below. As Benito looked on from the famous closed restaurant, a man also in black went back down the hill and a holy father came out of the building to enter the church as Benito had done to light some candles only a moment before. But pay heed to Benito he did not, but locked the door. That was all well and good, for Benito had to get off the mountain. So go back down he did in his Italian black shoes and found a horse and carriage he then did, agreeing to the fare and munched on an orange as they went back down the hill. And that was all well and good, for Benito had not had anything all day, fasting religiously on his pilgrimage as he did! And that was all well and good. But then he had to pay, and pay he did, handing twenty lira into the grateful man's hand, as Benito put a hand on the horse as it did take aback. And then off Benito went to catch his ferry.

Shop Benito did not, but after hearing about the departure time, went to the nearest quaint caffe and found a way to text his friends back on the Asian side of things. It was quite nice, observing the art presented therein by one who works and paints on the island itself. But Benito bought none, for how few lira did he have left? Only enough to catch the next ferry and on he went!! To the next stop. As he was on the ferry, he decided to sell some of his own wares, so he pulled a bottle of perfume out of his back pocket and offered it to the man sitting in back of him, but was handily refused, the man knowing enough to accept things from a stranger, no less on the boat as tea and coffee were served, as well as candies. Benito thought he could get along well on a boat, but it was not to be, for Benito would be leaving a few days later after an encounter with the Jihadist's, who will be depicted shortly therein! (...)

Coming to shore, Benito waited for a time before finding a nice restaurant where he could warm himself by the heater. soon Idil showed up and there was much rejoicing as they sipped on their tea and coffee respectively. Then they were off, Idil pulling a 100 lira bill from her back pocket to hand to the waiter who took offense, or so it seemed, until they were off, but opened the door nicely, and then they were off to Bagdati street! for to meet with Irem where they met in the bathroom and that was all well and good, for they would be eating then fairly shortly. And eat they did, alotta gelatta. And that was all well and good. For then Benito was off on another Turkish taxi ride, and that, was all well and good, for he was the only one aboard the vehicle and they went across the bridge, dodging traffic and police cars. What a ride!

And it was another adventure of trying to reach his final destination, asking for Topkapi, but then realizing after discussion with another Turkish lady, that he was in the wrong car, then getting on a bus, which took him in a certain direction for awhile, past a great mosque, which Benito thought surely must be Sultanehmet, but was not to be, for Benito had gone too far. In disgust, Benito disembarked and found a cab after questioning the local kebab dealers that took him to Sultanehmet, and they had a great time trying to locate the hostel, going past the Best Western, which looked like the best bet to Benito, but soon was at the hostel called Sultan.