Istanbul

Istanbul....

Well....Istanbul...what a place...

Very much a tourist town, well at least where we were staying which was a stones throw from the Blue Mosque.

Many Many touts offering taxis, carpets, good food....

After such a long day we just wanted to eat and get to bed really so we didn't venture far. We did find a typical Turkish Restaurant serving Humus and bread and Tavuk Sis...Chicken Kebab. Many people smoking Shisha with Apple tobacco! And some whirling Dervish for entertainment!

So an early night!

The next day the priority was to find out about transport to the next destination and then see the sights.

We had heard that there was an overnight train to get us where we wanted to go and a nearby travel agent who could assist with booking the tickets.

Of course with the usual flair of any kind of agent we spent ages trying not to buy their up-sales and balloon flights...we had picked the busiest week in Turkey to travel as Eid this year meant a 9 day holiday during which everyone travels to visit family and enjoy their extended holidays. So no train all the way to our destination. We could only get as far as Turkey's capital - Ankara from there we would have to take a Bus all the way to Syria...we decided to break up the journey in Goreme, Cappadocia and then onwards to Aleppo.

But with travel arrangements confirmed we were left to enjoy Istanbul and all it has to offer.

First was the Cistern Basilica, a cavernous reservoir beneath the city which had once provided the water supply for the city. Eerie and cool with roman columns supporting the arched structures of the ceiling. It had been meant to impress and entertain the kids but their limit for sights was running low!

I was pretty impressed though!

Next stop the Grand Bazaar...the most famous market in the world perhaps. It was surprisingly quiet when we entered and not at all what I expected. Just rows and rows of little shops that sold lots of duplicate things all with a slight twist of their own.

We of course got heralded into a carpet shop but with only a vague desire to purchase a carpet it was tricky to decide what to see. I was impressed by the sales spiel of course and we drank some tea...it was a bit of an effort to leave of course but we did at least have some idea of how much a carpet was worth...well a carpet in Istanbul anyway...

We just wandered around for a while picking up gifts here and there and eventually finding somewhere to stop for lunch in a lovely vine covered courtyard.

A couple more try's at carpets and then I was accosted by someone trying to sell me a knock off Mulberry handbag...I was quite tempted but the sales pitch got a little to intense and I knew I had no room in my limited back pack!! So we turned tail and left the bazaar!! and with no carpet!! Phew!

Another early night!!

The next morning was an early morning trip to the Blue Mosque which is pretty by all means...but not that Blue...and Mosques just aren't as opulent as Churches.

Then later that day to the Aya Sofia which had been a church and was turned into a Mosque with the introduction of Islam to the area. It was much more specactular both in shear size and in opulence. The walls displaying 1500 year old mosaics of Christ and Mary with some weird looking Angels...quite something.

A lot more wandering around, down to the port to look at the boats and the hundreds of people fishing in the river off the bridge.

We attempted to go on a trip down the Bosporus, by attempted I mean we paid and got on the boat and sat in the harbour for 30 minutes or so until we got so bored of waiting and got off the boat with a full refund

So we filled 2 days with wandering and shopping...I squeezed in a trip to the Hamman...I will tell you about that one later!!

And off we went on the overnight train...in our own cabin with bunks...my first sleeper train...the kids were excited...

None of us slept very well...and we all had a late night which meant we were all a bit grumpy then next day...but hey...it;s all a part of the adventure!!!!