Istanbul, not Constantinople ...
Yes, I had to make that joke - but I did actually hear that song a few times in Turkey!
After our travel company abandoned us in Turkey - ie they had given us no times or tickets for the theoretical overnight bus that we were to take back to Istanbul, and every time we rang their offices, no answer, we found that the bus was going to take 14 hours, and cost 60 lire, whereas a flight direct would take an hour, and cost 79 lire. So we decided to fly - the best decision ever, as it meant we could relax on Thursday night, pack and shower etc, then fly on Friday morning and arrive actually fresh at Istanbul!
Istanbul was amazing - I'm used to seeing lots of churches around, and hearing bells, but hearing the call to prayer is really moving, and the mosques are just beautiful - we went inside the Blue Mosque, which is one of the biggest/most famous, and it was just gorgeous.
We also went to the Hagia Sophia, a former mosque/church/now museum, but I think the highlight of our day was the Grand Bazaar, this huge market, where bargaining is easy - you just say you don't want something, which half the time is true, and they bend over backwards to lower the price! But it can get quite tiring, as people shout things at you all the time as you walk around.
We had doner kebab for dinner (hey, we're in Turkey! Have to try it - it was quite nice there!), then relaxed, looking at the Mosque by night.
On Saturday, we went to Topkapi Palace, where the Sultans used to live - gorgeous mosaics and lovely gardens.
Then unfortunately we had to leave, back to London, where it was colder and raining - you know your holiday is over!
A couple of barbeques on Sunday/Monday (thankyou both Claires for your kind hospitality!), and then I flew to Denmark on Tuesday!
After our travel company abandoned us in Turkey - ie they had given us no times or tickets for the theoretical overnight bus that we were to take back to Istanbul, and every time we rang their offices, no answer, we found that the bus was going to take 14 hours, and cost 60 lire, whereas a flight direct would take an hour, and cost 79 lire. So we decided to fly - the best decision ever, as it meant we could relax on Thursday night, pack and shower etc, then fly on Friday morning and arrive actually fresh at Istanbul!
Istanbul was amazing - I'm used to seeing lots of churches around, and hearing bells, but hearing the call to prayer is really moving, and the mosques are just beautiful - we went inside the Blue Mosque, which is one of the biggest/most famous, and it was just gorgeous.
We also went to the Hagia Sophia, a former mosque/church/now museum, but I think the highlight of our day was the Grand Bazaar, this huge market, where bargaining is easy - you just say you don't want something, which half the time is true, and they bend over backwards to lower the price! But it can get quite tiring, as people shout things at you all the time as you walk around.
We had doner kebab for dinner (hey, we're in Turkey! Have to try it - it was quite nice there!), then relaxed, looking at the Mosque by night.
On Saturday, we went to Topkapi Palace, where the Sultans used to live - gorgeous mosaics and lovely gardens.
Then unfortunately we had to leave, back to London, where it was colder and raining - you know your holiday is over!
A couple of barbeques on Sunday/Monday (thankyou both Claires for your kind hospitality!), and then I flew to Denmark on Tuesday!
posted by Laura B @ 6:56 am
2 Comments:
At 5:23 am,
Jane & Cam said…
Hey Laura Belle,
sorry to have missed you on Skype, I hope that you are well, you have lots of love from Jane and myself and I hope to read the first Denmark installment soon!
By the way where exactly was your dive course in Turkey? Oh well maybe you were saving it for the tropical waters of Denmark...
At 9:37 am,
Anonymous said…
Finally caught up with your travels. Read all the blogs and comments. Its great to hear you are enjoying yourself and putting Turkey on everyone's travel list. Been travelling a bit myself recently with work but nothing too exotic - Salt Lake City (as in "What Time Did Ya Say it is in ") and Peruvian heights. Visiting mines as usual. Off to Mexico next week for more of same.
Looking forward to more news,
Love from all us northern Browns.
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