Our base in Istanbul was the Artefus hotel which is sitiated in the heart of the Old town. The streets of the city were very busy on the afternoon we arrived with hundreds of people setting up BBQ along the waterfront. The view from the hotel terrace took in views of the harbour and The Blue mosque. In the evening we went to a local fish restaurant and ate on their terrace overlooking the sea. After dinner we went to a traditional coffee shop and tried to learn the rules of a table game that uses tiles.
Day 2.
On a beautiful Spring day we boarde the state run ferry for a trip up the Bosphurus to the mouth of the Black sea. The first thing we noticed was the amount of marine traffic on the Bosphurus, everything from huge cruise liners to small boats with a single fisherman.
Once we left the Galata bridge berth on the goldern horn we turned into the Bosphurus, the banks are a superb mixture of buildings mixing old with modern. The ferry makes several stop as it weaves in and out of traffic and passing some huge merchant ships.
Our final destination was the small fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi.
We made our way up to the ruins of fort Yoros, the remains are not much to see but the views from the top of the cliff towards the Black sea are breathtaking. From this view point you can also see the construction of the Yavus Sultan Selim suspension bridge.
We made our way up to the ruins of fort Yoros, the remains are not much to see but the views from the top of the cliff towards the Black sea are breathtaking. From this view point you can also see the construction of the Yavus Sultan Selim suspension bridge.
Back in Istanbul we made our way over to The Kybele restaurant to celebrate Sheena's birthday. The Kybele is decorated in a unique style with 100's of lamps covering the ceiling and antiques aplenty. The food is superb and the staff are very welcoming.
Day 3.
The next morning started with a gentle stroll around the square
that is next to the Famous Blue Mosque,the early morning is the best time to visit before it becomes crowded with the tourist buses.
There is a lot to see in this area so plan to stay there for several hours.
that is next to the Famous Blue Mosque,the early morning is the best time to visit before it becomes crowded with the tourist buses.
There is a lot to see in this area so plan to stay there for several hours.
We we walked up to the Grand Bazaar which has over 5,000 shops and is said to have opened in 1461. All prices have to be haggled over, so keep a smile on your face, have some fun with the shop keepers and get yourself a bargain.
Day 4.
The next day we hopped on the tram and the New modern Funicular and made a visit to Taksim square, the large square incorporates a statue commemorating the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The main shopping street runs off the square and and old tram runs along its length. We then retuned to the Bosphurus ferry area and wandered around the Old spice market.
Day 5.
On our final morning we took a stroll around Gulhane park which lies next door to the famous Topkapi museum. The grounds are well kept, peaceful and have some interesting statues. All to soon our visit to Istanbul came to an end, it had been a hugely enjoyable visit and we must say a huge Thank you to our fellow travellers, Bryan and Sheena.
We saw a vast amount and had some great laughs along the way.
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