Istanbul day two

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Day two, Istanbul.
I slept in, awoke with the cheap bottle of wine headache and missed the free breakfast here at the hotel. I came across a lovely cafe not far from the hotel; espresso coffee and a very good cheese omelette. Nothing like the ones I have made for me at home, but still very good.
Passing through reception this morning I see a group of intrepid travellers about to head off; they all have backpacks and look terribly fit and healthy. I start to have nightmares, picturing the 50 year old falling way behind the svelte others dragging her bag on wheels, battling with the extra bag she had to buy to stuff all the purchases in. Eventually the extra bag becomes a ball and chain.
What have I done! How long did the ‘I’m travelling light’ policy last? Uhm, about two days I think. Well - this is what one is supposed to do when in Istanbul isn’t it, spend money, and get talked into things that you would never normally buy at home. Woven cushion covers, embroidered cushion covers, jewellery, leather jackets.....
So off to DHL it was for me, and off goes the ball and chain. Phew, I’m back to travelling light again. I should add that my bag on wheels actually converts to a backpack if required, so I should be ok.
Off walking again, into the Blue Mosque. It’s huge inside, the mosaics are just beautiful. But it’s rather too busy for my liking, there is a cruise ship in port today, a big one...
If one more man offers me a cup of apple tea, closely followed by ‘Come I show you my carpets, good price, special price for you beautiful lady’ I’ll scream. No is not a word that exists in the salesman’s vocabulary. I tell them I don’t want rugs, my boyfriend has beautiful Iranian rugs at home, they spit on the road, ‘Argh! Single knotted, no good, my rugs much better quality, double knotted. You buy proper rug, come I show you.’
Then there is the pushy restaurant hosts. They court to enter their restaurant. Like a spider to the fly, but once he has you in his web, do you think you can get any service? Hello - I’m here, I want to order, which means I’ll spend money, hello, and can I get some service please? I had a delicious chicken kebab for lunch.
Tomorrow is another day, the museum awaits, as does a open top bus trip spanning the two continents that Istanbul is located on; Europe and Asia.

They found me a control for the aircon. Bliss

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Comments

[Brian]

Great start
Well done Arna. Great start by the sounds of things.

[anonymous]

How much for a shoe shine?
Fancy having more than one shoe shine stall next to one an other? Competition must be fierce! Travel safe, David