Wednesday, June 1
We have photos.
I have gone back to all blog entries and added photos if you so desire to go back and see them.
Bosphorous, the great divide.
This morning Ali and our driver Fatih picked us up and we head for Süleymaniye Cami. Perched on a hilltop near Istanbul University, the largest mosque in Istanbul, it is another example of Sinan the architect's work.
From there we headed for the ferry terminal and a one and a half hour cruise down the Bosphorous. On the boat, we met a couple from Detroit, a Senior GM car exec and his wife. She originally from Ontario, him from Wolfville NS. Most of the significant sites we saw were on the European side of the city including Dolmabahçe Palace and several mansions and embassies.
Once off the boat, our driver was there waiting to drive us to Taksim Square. Lisa and I would have reached this square on our day one walk but we turned around when we encountered the demonstration on Istiklal Caddesi (street). We had lunch off on a side street of Istiklal, the food again, so great. He asked us if we wanted to choose a place, we said his track record to date was perfect. We wanted to eat customary foods in authentic Turkish establishments.
The food here is great, many of the flavors and dishes I've had before because my mother's cooking, the flavors, are similar even though the dishes may look and be named different.
Lisa had a Turkish coffee today. My mother also makes that. I passed. Looks like mud to me. Lisa liked it. What you do after drinking the small cup of coffee, in those tiny looking mugs on those saucers, is turn the cup upside down, let it run on up the sides of the mug, then have someone look at it and tell you your fortune. My teta Katica (aunt), my father's sister used to read fortunes. My father never believed her. She retired back to her village in Croatia a couple of years ago .
Next on the program was a visit to Dolmabahçe Palace that we saw from the boat. It was built during 1843-1856 as a replacement for Topkapi Palace.
As always, whenever we came across a lineup, eg. at museums, ferries, any place where you need to stand in a long line and buy a ticket, Ali being an official and certified guide got to the front of the line (like the first class line at an airport), got our tickets, walked us to the turnstiles where there was another lineup. Here we used the "fast lane (a separate turnstile)" and in we went. We got some looks, but hey, membership has its privileges, or - get a guide people!
I digress, the Palace, what an amazing place. Rather than me type away here, Google it.
After the palace, the ride back to the hotel, and we said goodbye to our guide Ali. A great guy and guide. The driver will be back day after tomorrow to rake us to the airport at noon.
Then we had a 3 hour nap. I just awoke to blog. Nearly 8pm, we'll be out late again tonight. We are wild night party people, we should be back hopefully around midnight. lol
After our nap we went out for a short walk, a couple of donors, and back to our hotel restaurant for a fresh big fruit plate, ice-cream, and tea.
Pretty funny, each night, Cem (pronounced gem, so we all him Jim) moves the tables out onto the street more and more. Tomorrow night, we should be right out in the center...
Thanks to Gary who found me an app to allow these photos to be uploaded - still not easily but much easier. We'll see how much longer I will have then patience to continue...
From there we headed for the ferry terminal and a one and a half hour cruise down the Bosphorous. On the boat, we met a couple from Detroit, a Senior GM car exec and his wife. She originally from Ontario, him from Wolfville NS. Most of the significant sites we saw were on the European side of the city including Dolmabahçe Palace and several mansions and embassies.
Once off the boat, our driver was there waiting to drive us to Taksim Square. Lisa and I would have reached this square on our day one walk but we turned around when we encountered the demonstration on Istiklal Caddesi (street). We had lunch off on a side street of Istiklal, the food again, so great. He asked us if we wanted to choose a place, we said his track record to date was perfect. We wanted to eat customary foods in authentic Turkish establishments.
The food here is great, many of the flavors and dishes I've had before because my mother's cooking, the flavors, are similar even though the dishes may look and be named different.
Lisa had a Turkish coffee today. My mother also makes that. I passed. Looks like mud to me. Lisa liked it. What you do after drinking the small cup of coffee, in those tiny looking mugs on those saucers, is turn the cup upside down, let it run on up the sides of the mug, then have someone look at it and tell you your fortune. My teta Katica (aunt), my father's sister used to read fortunes. My father never believed her. She retired back to her village in Croatia a couple of years ago .
Next on the program was a visit to Dolmabahçe Palace that we saw from the boat. It was built during 1843-1856 as a replacement for Topkapi Palace.
As always, whenever we came across a lineup, eg. at museums, ferries, any place where you need to stand in a long line and buy a ticket, Ali being an official and certified guide got to the front of the line (like the first class line at an airport), got our tickets, walked us to the turnstiles where there was another lineup. Here we used the "fast lane (a separate turnstile)" and in we went. We got some looks, but hey, membership has its privileges, or - get a guide people!
I digress, the Palace, what an amazing place. Rather than me type away here, Google it.
After the palace, the ride back to the hotel, and we said goodbye to our guide Ali. A great guy and guide. The driver will be back day after tomorrow to rake us to the airport at noon.
Then we had a 3 hour nap. I just awoke to blog. Nearly 8pm, we'll be out late again tonight. We are wild night party people, we should be back hopefully around midnight. lol
After our nap we went out for a short walk, a couple of donors, and back to our hotel restaurant for a fresh big fruit plate, ice-cream, and tea.
Pretty funny, each night, Cem (pronounced gem, so we all him Jim) moves the tables out onto the street more and more. Tomorrow night, we should be right out in the center...
Thanks to Gary who found me an app to allow these photos to be uploaded - still not easily but much easier. We'll see how much longer I will have then patience to continue...
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