5/11 - Istanbul Turkey

Saturday 5 November – Istanbul

We woke up right in the middle of Istanbul. Went up onto the Hemispheres to watch. Very different view of where we had been last year. Somewhat murky. So many very large mosques, each with 4 minarets towering over the gold domes. Istanbul is built on seven hills and there is a Mosque on each of them.  Ate brekky then took to the wharf by about 8.30. Strolled across the bridge over the Golden Horn and into the Spice Market, reeking of coffee, spices, cheese and fish. On to the AK bank, scene of last year’s ripoff.  Past our hotel and up to the park below Topkapi palace. Lots of runners with bits of papers (probably doing fartlek). Up the hill to Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque, Obelisk etc.

St Sofia

Blue Mosque

 The municipal officers had new 3 wheel vehicles like Segwe’s with a safety wheel in front. Very novel and they were trying to ask 5 euros for photos. One delighted kid got a ride.

We decided to head back for the 11.30 quiz and lunch. A brisk 50 minute stride which barely got us aboard by 11.30. We were 82 seconds late getting to the bar where they hold quizzes but Jenny turned up a minute later and we had a chat, answered a few quiz questions  and collected our golden vouchers. I think that gets us to 40.

Quiet afternoon. Rugged up to watch the sailing away process. The lights were all on and Istanbul looked pretty good by night. The mosques were particularly well lit. We booked tours for the next 2 days. J is going to look at ruins tomorrow and we will both go and see the spectacular monasteries on fingers of rock as featured in the Bond movie. Next day we change cruises in Athens.

We skipped dinner again and watched half of the Irish comedian’s show. The whole entertainment team turned out for what was advertised as a Name the Song contest. But from the start it became apparent that a couple of people had been briefed to keep singing after the music stopped, thereby giving away the name. Keith pretended to be annoyed but this only incited everyone else to sing as well. It was very cunning – they would never have got us to sing by asking us to . . but trying to stop us led to the whole pub roaring out the lyrics. By the end we were doing the conga and YMCA and Macarena. A big night.

Bob was all drained and went to bed. Harvey joined us for the late night quiz but we were well off the pace.