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Hagia Sophia
This picture does not do the space justice We left Cape Town with butterflies in our tummies but soon settled down on our wonderful flight flying Turkish Airways. The plane seemed brand spanking new with all the fruit. The tv's in front of us were touch screen, you could plug in your laptop and cell phones. AS for the food - it was better than many restaurants I have been to. Yes I am talking about airline food - there was nothing airline about it and we were sitting in economy. So we could not fault the flight but heck what was to come when we landed I was not prepared for. We had to queue for our visa and then we had to queue for immigration - I saw over 108 arms for landing bays and I think all were full with planes that had arrived that very morning. It took us 2 hours to get out of the airport!!!!! At least our shuttle was still waiting. Well the meet and greet guy was there and we had to wait about 10 minutes for the car to arrive so that was not bad.
Our hostel - Marmare Guesthouse is clean and the room we got has a lovely
view of the Bosphorus and backpackers across the street. The houses here are very narrow and the stairs steep. Thank goodness I did not have to carry my case up them! As we were early for check in we left them for the day in the luggage store and went on our way to the Hagia Sophia. I have been there before but it was Margie's first time. I must say I was completely blown away again! It's so hard to imagine how it was built so may hundreds of years ago without the sophisticated machinery we have - but then with what we have I don't think we could make it as beautiful.
After this we made our way up to the Bazaar finding our way and looking in all the windows at the interesting and varied foods. Lots of kebabs of course, platters of roasted stuffed vegetables and lamb stews, every shape colour and size of turkish delight and baklava deserts in all shapes and dimentions. Our eyes nearly popped out with all the shops in the Grand Bazaar and the millions of people wandering through its ancient streets. There is so much stuff it is bamboozaling -
how on earth can you choose anything when everything is shouting -"take me home!"
By this time we were tired and went home for a power nap. Then we woke up and went out again and wondered along the walls of the old city under the Topkapi Palace for about 2 hours till we found ourselves at one of the many ferry terminals and then and to find our way back up the hill. But how do you work the tickets for the trams????? f@$k we got it right eventually and then went for a bite to eat. But it was early to bed as tomorrow was a another big day.
After our delicious breakfast of home made jams, fresh bread, cheeses and salad we were off to the Red Bus for our tour of the city. I wanted to go to a market further along from the Dolmabahce Palace - we had no intention of going there and I am so glad we did not even venture there as the queue was very long.No one got off the bus the first round which was not so good for the folks along the way who were waiting to get on
Bowls in the Bazaar
Every colour shape and size as there was no space for them. The second time around we got off and caught a bus along the road to just under the Attaturk Bridge where this street market is. Its a real local hangout and only open on a Sunday. We had lunch there and then went to Taksim SQuare. I have never seen so many people in one place, and of course more shops than you can imagine with all the big names of shopping there. Up every side street you can see more people more cafes more shops it just boggles the mind. We came home after catching the tram the wrong way at first and then got dressed up and went out for dinner. This was special and the dinner was awesome. See the pics.
Today was our last day here we have made the most of that too. Spending the morning in the Topkapi Palace oogling precious stones - diamonds, rubies, emeralds - some as big as quails eggs and pearls fashioned into a myriad of wonderful designs. The tiles in the Harem and State rooms were incredible I loved them all. WE had a drink on the terrace as and watched the
Exotic delights
Glace fruits of every variety Bosphorus below with its many ships big and small plying its waterways.
We then went to the Cisterns which was as magical as I remembered them though no Kentridge exhibition this time! Plenty of fat fish swimming in the crystal clear waters.
We wandered down the hill to the Spice Market and once again were blown away but the enormousness of it all and the bustle and hustle of the long coated and scarved ladies doing their shopping. We bought exotic spices to try and copy the delicious tastes of Turkey when we get home.
We limped back home, arms laden with spoils of the day and now we are off for our last kebab and say goodnight to this wonderful city. Tomorrow its off to the Holy Land
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Roy & Elinor
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hi!
Wow! Looks fabulous! And the markets look amazing - yummy veggies! Enjoy!