I am very excited about the trip, which is now in less than two weeks! I have been thinking about the items I need to bring and writing them out so I do not forget anything. The main problem I am going to have is making sure I don’t over pack. The only thing I’m getting nervous about is flying. I have always had a little fear of flying, but it has gotten worse after my Mock Trial trip to Las Vegas in January. The plane caught some major turbulence, and it was very terrifying. I think I’m going to try to sleep most of the plane ride and read to keep me distracted. The travel writing course has been incredibly helpful and has taught me more about Turkey, Greece, and travel writing in general. With every travel writing essay I read, I get even more excited about the trip. The project book I chose to read was a book about the history of Istanbul. Before I took the class, I was mainly excited to visit Greece, but now I am very excited to visit Turkey as well. The place I am most excited to visit is the Topkapi Palace. Istanbul: The Imperial City was the book I read, and it focused on the changes Istanbul has experienced from 431 BC to today. The book also discussed the Ottoman Empire and the fall of Constantinople. The Turkish group included Christians and Muslims, and they worked together to take over Constantinople. Major reforms began to take place during the 1400s. Mosques and other famous landmarks were built during that time, including the Topkapi Palace. In 1453, Mehmet II ordered the palace to be built. The Ottoman sultans continued their rule, and each one added onto the palace during their reign. The Topkapi Palace is one of the oldest and largest palaces in the world, and it is going to be a breathtaking site to visit.