On to Istanbul

Alarm time again to get us all up and moving to head to the bus station for the airport shuttle then off to Istanbul!  We were all wondering if our airport experience in Rome was going to follow us into Croatia.  Managed to get to the bus station with minutes to spare and hopped the airport shuttle figuring we’d grab breakfast at the airport.  It all worked out and our flight was right on time... early landing in Istanbul if you believe that one!

The view from our roof top deck.  Great place for a beer and watch the sunset.

All our bags showed up on the turnstiles so the packs got tossed on our backs and off to get money and find the Metro.  Thought we’d give the Metro a try as it looked basic enough and believe it or not but we found the transfer and got out

Playing crib on the roof with the Blue Mosque behind.

at the right stop.  We wandered along beside the Blue Mosque and down a little side street looking only a little lost when a local guy asked if he could help.  I showed him where we were trying to go so he made a quick phone call to the hotel to tell us we were really close!  Down half a block and there it was, the host waiting for us at the door as he knew we were coming.  One look at me with the sweat rolling down my bald forehead and he said, “first before anything, I think we need a drink, what you would like?”  That moment really reminded me of the book “Three Cups of Tea” Shannon and I just finished reading in Italy.  As we sat and talked about Mehmet’s family and saw photos, his assistant got us all drinks and took our packs up to the room.  Wow, I can get used to this!

Let’s just say my initial impression of Istanbul is soooo far off what I had expected.  I had read all these stories of pickpockets everywhere, people slashing your packs, men making derogatory comments to women, keeping your kids super close and never taking advice from strangers as they are all carpet salesmen trying to get you into their stores.  Also after Rome and the garbage and dirtiness we saw there, we thought a city with 14 million people in it would be worse.  So instead our experience has been men making sure the girls got a seat on the Metro with their heavy packs on, everyone quite friendly, the Sultanahmet area being spotless and everyone is very family oriented.  Sure we’ve had a couple of friendly guys pointing out their carpet stores but no pressure like I thought we’d experience here. 

Our hotel was a bit on the snug side as I couldn’t find any quadruple rooms so I got a triple.  The hotel host, Mehmet had no problem with us having four people instead of three but he made sure we checked out the room because there was no room to put an extra bed.  Just us and our packs fill the room pretty well.  Right away Alyssa and I went up to the roof top deck to hang out, check out the views and to play crib.  As we took in the extraordinary views the call to prayer started all around us.  The Blue Mosque started it off and then all the other mosques around us, it was pretty cool.

The Blue Mosque with the party going on all around.

Once we got settled we were off to find food.  Wow, the food here is amazing!  Hit a local restaurant on the roof and were wondering why there were so many Turks almost having a party around us.  Well it turns out we’re in the middle of Ramadan where most Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and then feast once the sun has gone down.  After dinner we went for a walk around the Blue Mosque and people were everywhere picnicking all around the mosque.  It was pretty festive and as we walked around I gained a new insight to the Muslim religion.  

Haiga Sophia in the back of the colourful fountain display.