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Published: November 3rd 2009
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Hi everyone, wanna tell you about our holiday in Istanbul this spring. I must say I liked the city not very, but just VERY, VERY MUCH:-) Istanbul really became the place of my dreams, so we're going to go there again and again. But this is all emotions and feelings and everybody is probably waiting for specific descriptions of the city, locations and places of interest. Let's get started then!
First, the airport. I was in Istanbul for the first time together with three friends of mine. The budget was small. So we tried to find a hotel in advance and not just cheap but very cheap))) Not a hostel of course, because hostels are only for amateurs IMHO. At least if I live in one room with three men, these people have to be my friends. In the last case - three charming girls with a model appearance. But this is all fiction of course)) In reality there were four of us and the Santa Sofia Hotel, which we booked in advance being solemnly assured that it will be more expensive to book a room on-site than book on-line. God only knows why it is so - as I
later understood from the confused explanations of administrator, it comes to stimulating this kinds of orders. Two rooms booked on-line cost us half price. So I definitely recommend to book your hotel in Istanbul on-line - you will save enough. And now some words about the hotel.
Santa Sophia Hotel - a strong "3 star" without any frills, but quite decent. A small choice of channels was a little grief. Almost all of them were Turkish but several still in English. The room was modest but clean, they cleaned up and changed towels every day. And all this despite the fact that sometimes we forgot to leave tips to the maid (well, we really came back late at night very tired). We enjoyed the cuisine. Not bad for a 3 star. No luck just with one of the rooms - it faced the inner courtyard being under construction. But they worked during the day so the noise did not bother us. But I would prefer to have another view, still in Istanbul)). But for that kind of money we could resign ourselves, all the more we just slept in the hotel.
I don't know how to get from
the airport and back so I will not lie to you because our reservation provided for free transfer. But people are talking buses and taxis are quite affordable. However we preferred to go by electric train. It travels virtually over the whole city - well, at least the old part of it. The stop was in five minutes from Santa Sophia so we went there in the mornings.
For the first time we had time to view the standard travel kit of sights. The whole Sultanahmet and Taksim to boot) I'm not going to write something about what and where was built there - you can always google this kind of stuff - I will describe my impressions, it may be useful to the tourists.
The most impressive is definitely Yerebatan. It is clear that Hagia Sophia is great having a lot of gold, stone bowls, wall paintings, scaffoldings by the way :-) but I'm much more impressed by Yerebatan. For those who does not know it is a reservoir instead of the ancient church with a lot of columns, carps in the water, darkness, dreads, the dripping ceiling, just as Medusa will appear around the corner) She really appears but in the form of the monument. Quite an enchanting sight!
The Hagia Sophia itself is very striking in size and decoration. But we probably had no luck to get there when the church was full, so we had to endure a little crush. By the way this is a plus. Try to join up to the guide who speaks the language you understand and will learn lots of new and interesting things.
The Blue Mosque was less clear to me than St. Sophia, the more there was a hatched area where non-Muslims were not allowed. But personally for me a huge plus was you could take off our shoes and sit on the floor. There is a soft carpet there and you can fall asleep)) The Turks are very friendly, they do not stare at you so the Blue Mosque has also passed the test.
I liked the Hippodrome from the back side. Everybody is crowding the three columns and somehow it's getting boring. But the correct idea about the size of the area appears when you come from the back and see that this little square is really enormous. We just see a small part of it. By the way, the locals tell - I do not know whether to believe or not - there are tunnels under the Hippodrome which are sometimes filled with water from the sea and then you can swim in the boats along them. The entrance is tightly closed but it really exists, I saw it myself.
The Bosphorus Strait. It is the most simple sight of the city but very cool. I would dream to sit on the Eminonu docks for hours. Very nice! The gulls, the fishermen, lots of people. Always in a hurry but without city spite)) Everything roars, buzzes and the waves splash. Bosphorus is a very beautiful place. I did not expect the usual strait could catch me so I would dream about it.
Well, The Grand Bazaar. Do not judge strictly, we are just boys) so we were not impressed much. Yes, there are lots of gold, clothes, hookahs ... The Grand Bazaar is impressive as a cultural and social phenomenon. It will probably impress a shopaholic I think)) I liked the other market much more - so-called Spice Bazaar. But this is only because I love to eat))
By the way it is the best city in the world concerning food, IMHO. You won't remain hungry and you can spend from $ 5 per day to .... it depends on your purse and opportunities. Our pockets were empty and even now didn't become heavier so we preferred to eat the hotel breakfasts))) It's true - the one breakfast at the Santa Sophia Hotel is keeping body and soul of a healthy young guy)) That's all in general. If anyone is interested in the booking system we used, here it is - TurkeyTPS.com - the guys know their business backwards, special thanks to them. I think there are plenty of such systems but I'm not going to talk about what I did not try.
And the last thing. Those who go to Istanbul for the first time, do not buy a-ny-thing during the first day of your staying! Cause by the last day you will have so many things that you will need to buy some cases more:-)
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