Our taxi ride the first day was our first experience of Turks ripping us off, in general the prices in Turkey for dining and drinking are so high but then so is their inflation 33 percent. The taxi after going the long way added tolls and then added to total another 400 tl without showing us. $ 125down fare, should of been about $55
Istanbul has over 16 million people plus extras for refugees and the capital Ankara has 5 million.
Day 2
Breakfast in the hotel was different a very odd combination of food . It was on the 7 th floor which has good views over the city, including lots of satellite dishes.
First activity was did a big walk around the streets ,first heading to the Grand Bazaar built in 1461.
lots of shops , carpets, leather goods, jewellery and Turkish delights spices and Baklava. we only bought a fridge magnet.
Then down to Hippodiom of Constantinople. A chariot racing area from the Ottoman era and roman period. It was commissioned by Emperor Severus in 196 and in 334 completed by Constantinus.
The obelisk of Theodosius, the serpent column and the walled obelisk all stand their today with their bases 5 m underground where the Roman ground surface was then.
This area is the Sultanahmet area – historical area and also known as Horse Square
We sited the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia which we visit tomorrow and walked past the Topkapi Palace which we will do Sunday.
After 10 ,000 plus steps back to the hotel for a rest.
day 2
Its the 30 th of August and its Turkeys National day celebrating turkeys independance.
We took a bus tour which went to
1/ St Stephan church which is made of iron and is from the Ottoman empire.
2/ Then we walked the coloured house area called Balat which is 200 yrs and the houses old ottoman style.
Lots of jews lived here pre moving to Israel but
now locals live here and the balcony houses which are small are very expensive.
We walked the coloured steps and stopped for coffee.
The city has 6 C walls and most of the main features of Istanbul are inside these.
3/ St George church which is Greek orthodox 15 C and contains
many saints coffins and even bones that are 1600 yrs old.
A piece of wood (1/3 rd ) is inside the church and is a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified with.
4/
A cruise and lunch on the Bosporous strait, one of the most important key waterways in the world.It divides Asia and Europe with Turkey in both continents.
We visited the asian side.
The cruise went past ironic bridges and viewing of landmarks like Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli fortress and the maiden tower (in the middle of the strait) were seen.
5/ Hagia Sophia 537 ad and a testament to timelessness.
It has been a church, a museum and a Mosque. A stunning dome which has collapse many times and it has christian’s mosaics dating to the 11 th 12 th and 13 th Centuries.
There was even some viking script left as a reminder of the past.
6/ The blue mosque also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
Known as the blue mosque because of the blue tiles on the second floor. It has six minarets .
A long day but good tour.
I had to wear a full length cover as my shorts showed my knees .
Day4
Topkapi palace a sultans palace for the 15 C.
Also great views over the Bosphorus strait and across to the Galata tower.
We walked there and back through Gulhane park.
We found a good spot for dinner and went back there several times. Idoo Cheff Restaurant in a quiet street and nice music. We tried another place to see the dancing man but didnt like its food.
The streets of Turkey had lots of tourist shops and even more shops with Baklava , cakes and turkish delight.
Turkey was interesting and the coast pretty and stunning from the beaches and the mountains behind.
Istanbul was overwhelming but I enjoyed seeing the mosques and sites. John not so much.
But we found it very expensive and didnt like most of the food.
Glad ive been dont what to return.
Sept 1 we fly back to Darwin this journey over back to the van.
