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Published: October 24th 2013
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May 4
Sad to leave our lovely digs in Goreme and Angela, our great host (35€ a night included breakfast!) Plane to Istanbul delayed by fog, left 2.5 hours late! Got to Istanbul, took public transport to our hotel which took about 2 hours, but it was a long way by bus, funicular, tram, then walking! It was so busy in the Sultanahmet area we could hardly move when we got off the tram. Yakamoz Guest House was very central, just behind the Blue Mosque, which was very impressive and quite a new experience for us to enter. Found a nice wee restaurant just round the corner from us, called the Meat House! As in Goreme, the temperature drops at night, sweatshirt time, not used to this!
May 5
Had the typical Turkish breakfast of boiled eggs, cheeses, jam, olives, bread, tomatoes and cucumber. Took a ferry up the Golden Horn to the famous Eyup mosque which is surrounded by sultan's tombs! There were masses of people there as it was Sunday, tourists and families' day out. You get a great view over the Golden Horn from the huge hill cemetery above the town. Next stop was the Chora Church
Museum, which has many beautiful and well preserved mosaics. On our return to the city we were amazed at the litter left in the park after family Sunday outings. Rubbish is a real problem in Turkey. Stopped off to watch sunset from the Galata Bridge, along with a huge crowd, and literally hundreds of people fishing from the bridge. Istanbul is very crowded, so many tourists, plus a big population of over 10 million!
May 6
Walked up to the Topkapi Palace, very long queues so decided to come back later. We worked out it is best to go later in the afternoon to popular attractions like this, after the tour buses and cruise ships have gone. Went to the Grand Bazaar which was huge, then walked down to the Spice Bazaar, love seeing all the colourful spices and wares displayed. Walked up to Suleymaine mosque, I went to have a look in while Blu rested on the grass, he is over mosques now! Back to Topkapi palace, no queues! - so we had a great look around the palace and the sultan's harem (but not any longer!)
7 May
Spent the morning at the Archaeology museum, what
Mosque Etiquette
males must wash their feet before entering a mosque (this one is at Uskadar) a vast collection! Back to base for a sleep as my cold had worsened. Went to Basilica Cistern about 4pm, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city (bult in the 6th Century) then across the road to Aya Sofia (Hagia Sophia). Aya Sofia is an amazing structure bult in 537, first as a former Greek Orthodox church, then as an imperial mosque and now a museum. Also good to visit later in the day, we were there until closing at 7 and it was relatively quiet!
8 May
Took a boat trip up the Bosporus to Agia Roumeli and walked up to the castle ruins for a view over the Black Sea, then had fresh fish for lunch in the village. Caught a ferry across to Saryier then a bus back to Kabatas. Walked up to the Dervish Museum (sadly no dancing today) then took the historic tram to Taksim Square. Went up to see the view from the 360 bar, another good tip from my brother. Finally, a nostalgic visit to the Meat House for dinner, such great food and staff!
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