Last day in Istanbul

We come to love this city. 20 million people. It is a friendly place, full of life, and just plane beautiful.





(entrance to our hotel area thru old city wall, there are many other ways to get there, this one is from the ocean side)





All week the temperature got warmer. Today was so warm it was shorts weather.











(Topkapi Palace from the seafront)











(Dolmabahçe Palace, the Topkapi replacement... from the same vantage point as photos above)

We walked to the shore from our hotel, and then along the shore towards the bridges. We wanted to see Topcapi Palace from below. We also passed Sirkecki train station. The last stop on the Orient Express. Along the waterfront we stopped for me to get a bag of roasted chestnuts. Again, yummy.























It's not just the tourists, actually it is mostly the locals, that snack on the foods provided by the cart vendors. Chestnuts, fresh fruit on a stick, pretzel like bread, corn to name some of them. You don't see people with a bag of chips, or a chocolate bar, or the usual crap we see back home. Good on them.
























Across the bridge and up the hill to Taksim Square, passing the Galata Tower. Actually stopped for lunch and a cafe at the foot of the tower. The Efes was really cold and hit the spot. Lisa needed an iPad skin so we found an electronics superstore call Saturn.

































































Taksim square





























I found the lemon ice-cream. Good thing it is not available back home. We also bought some Turkish delight. So many varieties, all so good.























On the way back down the hill, we stopped at a cafe in a narrow and quiet street for some Turkish tea and to play a game of backgammon. All the tables had one. It is big here, almost a national sport.

















As we approach the bridge to cross back, we run into our good friend Ali, on his way home today, guiding a new couple. What a small city.

Back across the bridge and on our way up the hill when we encounter a wallet vendor with his wallets on a blanket on the sidewalk. 3TL each. I ask to see one, he passes me the middle one. Then opens his purse like bag and says, "here are the leather ones". After some looking, saw two I liked. They were real leather because on the inside of each it said "real leather". He wanted 45TL each, I offered 20TL for both when - he picks up the blanket, all the wallets are perfectly attached and starts to run. Slick! I'm still holding 2 wallets. Then he comes back, I try and give them back, he says 40 for both. I say 20. I put them in his hand and leave. He says 30 - and again starts his escape. And again returns. I say 20. He says 30. I'm thinking not. I ask lisa's opinion on the wallets. Lisa says let's get out of here. We leave. I want to go back, Lisa doesn't.

Lisa said she gave me her advice and now let's go. Lisa's advice is like my father's. Wen you ask for it, and you get it, you better listen to it. Otherwise, don't ask next time. lol

So, I bit "cheesed" that I did not get my wallets, I suggested we head for the Grand Bazaar. We saw the big cruise ship leaving as we crossed the bridge (the Princess something), and it being nearly 7pm, the bazaar was not busy, and the vendors we closing up so prime time to make a good deal. We quickly found a leather vendor, with wallets, found one I liked as much as the others. He too wanted 45TL. I said 20. He said 40. I said 20. He said I am nuts. I said 20. He said no. I said 20. He said 35. I said 20. He said 30. I said no thanks. He said 25. I said good bye and left, and started to count... 1... 2... 3... as I walked away - "20" he yells at me. I went back. He said 24. I said 18. He said OK 20. Deal. Whew, hard work. It too says "real leather" on the inside!


When we returned to the park between Ayasofya and the Blue Mosque, I bought a bag of chestnuts and we sat down and enjoyed the view. Saw three cute little boys in their cute little outfits - poor kids - snip, snip, snip.



Back at the hotel, Cem held our table as we went upstairs to shower. And we brought down our remaining 2 unfinished bottles of wine, and had a great meal. Ending in the fresh fruit plate and Turkish tea.

What great memories. I can't remember how many times I was asked to buy a carpet, look at a carpet, or just talk about carpet. I don't want a carpet.

The vendors are sometimes aggressive, yet friendly and relatively polite. Not sure why they think their techniques work. They don't on me.

I think a Mediterranean cruise with a stop Istanbul will be on our radar for the near future. Maybe we can then see some of Egypt and of course visit Dubrovnik and Split again.