After bidding farewell to Sidian early Sunday morning we hopped on our flight to Istanbul, found our shuttle bus, and arrived in Taksim Square a few hours later. We were able to check-in to our hostel for the night and from there we worked on figuring out how to get in to the historic center from our positioning in the new district. I was pretty grumpy from our early morning flight, our less than appealing 6 person dorm room at the hostel, and my empty stomach. Thank goodness Sam is good with maps and was able to eventually navigate our way to where we needed to be. After getting some food and water into our systems we both were feeling much more chipper and we headed to the Basilica Cistern to view the famous pillared water reservoir. Later we went to Topkapi Palace, where generations of Sultans lived. It was massive, with sumptuous gardens and vistas overlooking the strait. After we got our fill at the palace we found our way to the famous Galta Bridge with its restaurant and pedestrian underpass and its daily fisherman bobbing and dangling their poles over the side of the upper-level of the bridge where proper traffic can cross. We grabbed a couple of fresh fish sandwiches at one of the cheaper options, with a sandwich for a mere 5TL (Turkish Lira) about $3USD. After getting our fill of the sights in the old district for the day we hopped on public transport back to Taksim Square and the new district, where our hostels were located. Of course I had to get my daily dose of rice pudding (a common dish in Turkey and one of my favorites!). We strolled down the ever hectic main street in the new district before calling it an early night.
The next morning we woke up and checked out of our first hostel (we only had one night there as our plans had changed from when we had orginally booked so; this was merely a stop over before the hostel we had booked for a number of nights). To both of our delights the new hostel, with the private room and bathroom, was much more to our liking. After a couple cups of coffee we headed out to the famous Grand Bazaar. This place is a site to see. Thousands of people flow in and out of the little lanes that make up the network of the massive Grand Bazaar. Hawkers come up with clever ways of rousing their potential customer. Sam and I heard such lines as; "I need the money." "Come in, I have bad things. Oh no, I mean good! Good! Wait, it's good!" "Have I see you before?"...and on and on they went. We had fun exploring, it's so colorful with fabrics, and glass lanterns, and of course rugs. The only thing in our budget was taking pictures, but that was enough for the both of us. From the Grand Bazaar we made our way down to the Spice Market. It was interesting to see the in-between space, a newer market had emereded that sold the same goods as in the Bazaar at a fraction of the price. I can't help but admit I did find myelsf a few lovely little trinkets to take home with me, mainly dried apricots and a pretty blue scarf (which I successfully haggled down to a price I thought was reasonable). It was such a fun day, the people, the sounds, the smells; it was a feast for the senses. The Spice Market was just as interesting; piles of colorful spices lined the stalls. People promising their products integrity, "would you like a try?". After all of this window shopping we were both exhausted and found a few moments of rest in the courtyard of a beautiful mosque. Later we enjoyed a glass of local brew, Efes, before grabbing another fish sandwich and high tailing it back to our hostel for some much needed rest.
Our third day in Istanbul we decided to go on a cruise down the Bosphorus Strait. After reading our guide book we got to the docks early and scoped out the best seats up on the top deck. We spent the day lazily winding our way up the Bosphorus take pictures of the coastline and enjoying each others company. The boat docked on the Asian side of Turkey just in time for lunch. The pushy wait-staff turned us both off, and we instead decided to forgo lunch and hike up the hill and get a view of where the strait empties into the Black Sea. It was really beautiful, and we were both glad we had made the hike. At this point we were getting quite hungry and after we did a little reading in the guidebook, realized there was a bakery where we could pick up some cheap eats. We got a traditional corn bread with sardines and leeks baked in, it was delicious and even better, no one was standing outside yelling at us to 'come-in and get a special deal'! A while later and it was time to get our boat back in to Istanbul. It was a lovely day trip, and definitely a fun way to get my first glimpse of Asia. The boat ride back was just as pleasant and we were deposited back at the dock in Istanbul in the late afternoon. We got a couple of fish sandwiches (see a trend?) before heading back to the hostel for some rest. Later in the evening we both got hungry and picked up some lahmacun, a flat bread dish with ground meat and seasoning. Sam and I both decided fresh lemon juice makes almost anything taste better, and almost every restaurant and street cart offers a fresh squeeze of lemon to its dishes, we approve.
The next day we headed to the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque; the most famous sites in Istanbul. We stood in a long line outside the Hagia Sofia and were approached by countless tour guides offering the 'best tour'. We patiently waited in the line and paid our entrance fee and enjoyed all the beauty of the Hagia Sofia has to offer. Once a Mosque, among many other things, it is now a museum. We took our time taking in the high ceilings, archways, painted and engraved artwork and the many other vast differences between this once-place of worship, as compared to all the other churches we have seen in other parts of Europe. After we had gotten our fill we meandered outside only to find the call-to-prayer had begun and the Blue Mosque would be closed for about an hour before would be closed for about an hour before we would be able to go in and view it. Later, when it was open we returned and were able to go in and view this working mosque. It was truly beautiful but, Sam and I both felt slightly out of place, and didn't want to over stay our welcome, so we took it in and left shortly after. We made our way down to the docks and hoped on a public ferry that brought us to the Asian side of Istanbul where we got off and looked for a restaurant we had read countess reviews for. We both got flustered and lost trying to find the restaurant and I finally went in and asked a hotel concierge to get directions. None of the workers knew English but, one of the men knew where the restaurant was and motioned for me and Sam to follow. Before we knew it he was walking down streets and turning corners and led us all the way to the doorstep of the restaurant. It was very sweet of him and Sam and I both thanked him before he turned around the headed back to the hotel, now that is customer service! We ate delicious meal of traditional Ottoman inspired dishes before we headed back to the European side, and on to our hostel. In the evening we sat on the roof top lounge and enjoyed a beer and a chat with a couple of travelers from Australia who were heading to the US in a couple of weeks. We were sure to share with them a few must-do's and must-sees while in America, including; buying gigantic 64oz slurpees at 7-eleven, going to baseball game, shopping at Super Wal-Mart, and eating at the Golden Corral buffet. It was fun evening, thinking about the rather awesomely disgusting American stereotypes they would have the pleasure of viewing, and in a weird way it made me homesick.
Our last full day in Istanbul, we took in at a slower pace. We found a coffee shop near our hostel and sipped on coffee and read for a couple of hours. Later we found some Turkish pizza, called pide, for lunch. After we headed in to the old district and went to the Islamic and Turkish art museum, yup another museum. We both agreed it didn't turn out worth the admission price but, 'you live and you learn'. The rest of the day we spent milling about. We meandered back through the bazaar and markets; we enjoed the Ramadan holiday market that had been set up in the main square next to the Blue Mosque. It was a carefree day, our final day together until Christmas.
The last morning was tough. I will never be good at 'goodbyes'. And, they are made tougher when you have to say it to someone that is loved so dearly. But, I have been reminded it is not goodbye forever, it is a see you soon.
The trip was amazing and the memories created will never be forgotten. This trip, traveled with the man I love, is just the beginning. And, I couldn't be more excited for whatever is next for us.
I am blessed and I am so stinkin' happy! I do recognize this, through my happiness, help others to see the happiness in their own lives.
Peace to you my friend ~
The next morning we woke up and checked out of our first hostel (we only had one night there as our plans had changed from when we had orginally booked so; this was merely a stop over before the hostel we had booked for a number of nights). To both of our delights the new hostel, with the private room and bathroom, was much more to our liking. After a couple cups of coffee we headed out to the famous Grand Bazaar. This place is a site to see. Thousands of people flow in and out of the little lanes that make up the network of the massive Grand Bazaar. Hawkers come up with clever ways of rousing their potential customer. Sam and I heard such lines as; "I need the money." "Come in, I have bad things. Oh no, I mean good! Good! Wait, it's good!" "Have I see you before?"...and on and on they went. We had fun exploring, it's so colorful with fabrics, and glass lanterns, and of course rugs. The only thing in our budget was taking pictures, but that was enough for the both of us. From the Grand Bazaar we made our way down to the Spice Market. It was interesting to see the in-between space, a newer market had emereded that sold the same goods as in the Bazaar at a fraction of the price. I can't help but admit I did find myelsf a few lovely little trinkets to take home with me, mainly dried apricots and a pretty blue scarf (which I successfully haggled down to a price I thought was reasonable). It was such a fun day, the people, the sounds, the smells; it was a feast for the senses. The Spice Market was just as interesting; piles of colorful spices lined the stalls. People promising their products integrity, "would you like a try?". After all of this window shopping we were both exhausted and found a few moments of rest in the courtyard of a beautiful mosque. Later we enjoyed a glass of local brew, Efes, before grabbing another fish sandwich and high tailing it back to our hostel for some much needed rest.
Our third day in Istanbul we decided to go on a cruise down the Bosphorus Strait. After reading our guide book we got to the docks early and scoped out the best seats up on the top deck. We spent the day lazily winding our way up the Bosphorus take pictures of the coastline and enjoying each others company. The boat docked on the Asian side of Turkey just in time for lunch. The pushy wait-staff turned us both off, and we instead decided to forgo lunch and hike up the hill and get a view of where the strait empties into the Black Sea. It was really beautiful, and we were both glad we had made the hike. At this point we were getting quite hungry and after we did a little reading in the guidebook, realized there was a bakery where we could pick up some cheap eats. We got a traditional corn bread with sardines and leeks baked in, it was delicious and even better, no one was standing outside yelling at us to 'come-in and get a special deal'! A while later and it was time to get our boat back in to Istanbul. It was a lovely day trip, and definitely a fun way to get my first glimpse of Asia. The boat ride back was just as pleasant and we were deposited back at the dock in Istanbul in the late afternoon. We got a couple of fish sandwiches (see a trend?) before heading back to the hostel for some rest. Later in the evening we both got hungry and picked up some lahmacun, a flat bread dish with ground meat and seasoning. Sam and I both decided fresh lemon juice makes almost anything taste better, and almost every restaurant and street cart offers a fresh squeeze of lemon to its dishes, we approve.
The next day we headed to the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque; the most famous sites in Istanbul. We stood in a long line outside the Hagia Sofia and were approached by countless tour guides offering the 'best tour'. We patiently waited in the line and paid our entrance fee and enjoyed all the beauty of the Hagia Sofia has to offer. Once a Mosque, among many other things, it is now a museum. We took our time taking in the high ceilings, archways, painted and engraved artwork and the many other vast differences between this once-place of worship, as compared to all the other churches we have seen in other parts of Europe. After we had gotten our fill we meandered outside only to find the call-to-prayer had begun and the Blue Mosque would be closed for about an hour before would be closed for about an hour before we would be able to go in and view it. Later, when it was open we returned and were able to go in and view this working mosque. It was truly beautiful but, Sam and I both felt slightly out of place, and didn't want to over stay our welcome, so we took it in and left shortly after. We made our way down to the docks and hoped on a public ferry that brought us to the Asian side of Istanbul where we got off and looked for a restaurant we had read countess reviews for. We both got flustered and lost trying to find the restaurant and I finally went in and asked a hotel concierge to get directions. None of the workers knew English but, one of the men knew where the restaurant was and motioned for me and Sam to follow. Before we knew it he was walking down streets and turning corners and led us all the way to the doorstep of the restaurant. It was very sweet of him and Sam and I both thanked him before he turned around the headed back to the hotel, now that is customer service! We ate delicious meal of traditional Ottoman inspired dishes before we headed back to the European side, and on to our hostel. In the evening we sat on the roof top lounge and enjoyed a beer and a chat with a couple of travelers from Australia who were heading to the US in a couple of weeks. We were sure to share with them a few must-do's and must-sees while in America, including; buying gigantic 64oz slurpees at 7-eleven, going to baseball game, shopping at Super Wal-Mart, and eating at the Golden Corral buffet. It was fun evening, thinking about the rather awesomely disgusting American stereotypes they would have the pleasure of viewing, and in a weird way it made me homesick.
Our last full day in Istanbul, we took in at a slower pace. We found a coffee shop near our hostel and sipped on coffee and read for a couple of hours. Later we found some Turkish pizza, called pide, for lunch. After we headed in to the old district and went to the Islamic and Turkish art museum, yup another museum. We both agreed it didn't turn out worth the admission price but, 'you live and you learn'. The rest of the day we spent milling about. We meandered back through the bazaar and markets; we enjoed the Ramadan holiday market that had been set up in the main square next to the Blue Mosque. It was a carefree day, our final day together until Christmas.
The last morning was tough. I will never be good at 'goodbyes'. And, they are made tougher when you have to say it to someone that is loved so dearly. But, I have been reminded it is not goodbye forever, it is a see you soon.
The trip was amazing and the memories created will never be forgotten. This trip, traveled with the man I love, is just the beginning. And, I couldn't be more excited for whatever is next for us.
I am blessed and I am so stinkin' happy! I do recognize this, through my happiness, help others to see the happiness in their own lives.
Peace to you my friend ~
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