How we found our next place to live

We were introduced to a woman in this way: We were walking over to Taxim with our friend, and along the way he wanted to stop in at a musical instrument store, where he bought a drum. The owner started to talk and let us know he had an American student (Larry from Chicago - just as he is now listed in our new cellphone) whom he called, and handed the phone over to me. We talked, he said he'd call around about a place and to call him back later. We called back after MUCH hassle obtaining a cellphone, and he said to meet him and Ergul today by this one Statue, so we did, and then went with her by cab to her house. She didn't speak much English, so we spoke in broken English and Turkish and got to know each other while we saw her house and the room she had for rent (and we liked each other).

The house is three stories plus a terrace with a view, very near the water (called the Golden Horn and on the edge of the Fener neighborhood, a UNESCO Heritage site and is really nice, she gave us a walking tour. Her son lives there as well. She owned a restaurant in Taxim in an old Byzantine building, but sold it and now she is leaving town for a month or two, meaning it will just be us and her son, whom we haven't met, but have spoken to, in English. She says he stays out late and sleeps in. Better than an early riser in our opinion. We will move over there on the first of the Month. It is $400 a month. We were looking at rooms for about $500 a month with a shared Kitchen and bath with many people, and now we share a four story house with one other person for less. So we walked back along the water in a really good mood - Cellphone hassle and the next housing step completed today.