11/4/19-11/8/19 Istanbul Turkey

WOW, they say Istanbul Turkey is the meeting place between East and West, well it’s also the meeting place of sensory overload!

The flight from Milan to Istanbul was without issues, however, it took two plus hours to check in baggage and clear security 😳

Short 2 and 1/2 hour flight to Istanbul and away we go! Istanbul has a new airport, and it’s HUGE! Only one terminal open and it’s still one of the largest airports we’ve ever been in. When it’s completed it will be the worlds largest airport ✔️ It’s a one hour plus taxi from airport to Sultanahmet.

Some quick thoughts on Istanbul before our tour. Istanbul is the largest city in Europe with over 17 million residents! It’s the fourth largest city in the world, it’s massive.

Thousands of cats run the city and wild dogs live in the parks. You ain’t in Eagle, Idaho son! Istanbul is the cosmetic surgery capital of Europe, bandaged noses and scalp bandages everywhere. Traffic is nonstop and there are very few crosswalks, jaywalking is a way of life.

Istanbul was ruled by the Sultans until the 1920’s and is largely a Muslim country. Cindy, with all that blonde, curly hair, caught quite the stares. Turkish woman who don’t wear hijabs have black hair. Mosques are everywhere and the faithful are called to prayers five times a day over a load speaker system mounted on all the mosques. You know when it’s prayer time✔️

We arrived in the evening and checked into our lovey hotel located 200 meters from the famous Blue Mosque. Thanks to our friend, Eric, for recommending the hotel 👍The view from our hotel rooftop patio is amazing. This is where breakfast is served every morning😎

Ok, we headed out for dinner and experience Istanbul right away. Restaurants are everywhere as are carpet shops and the owners/salesmen are very, very aggressive in trying to get you into their businesses.

Food – really there are three types of food here for lunch or dinner.

Kabobs, Istanbul is known for Kabobs and the shops are everywhere

Donor bbq

Clay pot casseroles, shrimp, fish, chicken and the ever present lamb😜

Ok, walking tour time, the world famous Blue Mosque.

You can see I had to wear pants and Cindy a head scarf to respect the shrine.

Top of the Palace hill.

Istanbul has a large number of underground cisterns that were used as water tanks supplying water via viaduct to the Palace Hill beginning in Years 500AD. One has been restored and is used in movies. It’s under remodel.

Ok , more walking and exploring. Cindy’s got us walking over 10 miles a day here so she’s happy. It’s mid 70’s with 80% humidity 😓

Spice market

The Grand Bazaar, unbelievably huge and salespeople hawking everything 😳

Food is a huge part of life in Istanbul. Stands are everywhere for spices, Turkish delights, and Baklava.

Juice carts, corn carts and bakery carts are scattered throughout the city.

Two days walking the old town, what an assault on your senses

But the highlight of Istanbul for us is the Turkish Bath. It’s a century’s old tradition in Istanbul. We visit the world famous Cagaloglu Hamam.

No pictures inside, this ones from their website.

Men on one side, woman the other, never together. First, off with the clothes, on with a towel in a private changing room. Then you are led into the Hamami’s steam room, all marble built in the 1700’s. Then a hand shower with 107 degree water, then on to the heated marble slab for a salt scrub, then a bubble massage. All the while you’re looking at a 300 year old marble beautiful building, truly a lifetime event!

Wrapped in clean towels you are taken to your private sitting room with pomegranate juice, orange water and Turkish Delights, unbelievably wonderful!

Ok, back to the tour😎

Istanbul has a great passenger ferry system to move people, this also meant we would be visiting the continent of Asia which is right next door , so we spend the next day on the ferry’s visiting different parts of the huge city

One last day today to explore and one more Turkish Bath 👍😎

Tomorrow, a quick flight to Athens, where we pick up a rental car and tour mainland Greece for two weeks 😎

Istanbul is a crazy, wild, beautiful city, if you ever get a chance, visit here

Ciao! Ciao!

PS Cindy and I have worn out two pairs of shoes each😜 cobblestones are hell on shoes✔️