Istanbul, Turkey

FIRST POST EVER - IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER!

Itinerary so far

Istanbul x3 (overnight bus) – Goreme x3 (overnight bus) – Antayla – Demre (boat) x3 – Fethiye x3 (bus) – Pamukkale x1 (bus) – Selcuk x2 (bus)....stay tuned for Cannakale, Gallipoli and back to Istanbul

3 nights in Istanbul

Highlights: The Blue Mosque at night; the Istanbul local council shutting down the fanatics

Lowlights: 'Your the Voice' sung at full voice around midnight

So Dave and I started our journey waiting at Istanbul airport for HRH Princess Jemima* - despite being a HRH she had been bumped off her flight by damn Emirates. It seems the greedy bastards overbook flights at any chance. The royal tears could not disuade Emirates from bumping her. Finally she arrived, well at least her luggage arrived a little before her!

Anyway, a short metro and tram ride into town and there we were in the middle of what could only be described as ANZ – a team of Aussies and Kiwis (from here on know as the fanatics) were already chanting the chants of the most patriotic (the likes of John Farnham and Crowded House – I didn't hear Cold Chisel's Khe San but I am sure it was sung). We didn't let the ANZ fanatics spoilt our mood (much) nor did we let the worst hotel room get us down (never ever stay at New Backpackers hotel in Istanbul). Let me just pause a minute and say a few words about this hotel room – mattress on (dirty) floor, no water at times – let alone hot water and the ever joyful exposed wires in the room of no water.

We were straight out there on the streets. The Blue Mosque – I have to admit wondering about the name until I was inside and blown away. We have 3D images of the mosque inside and I would share them with you but I have to do so using a microsoft product and anyone who knows Dave knows that this probably won't happen! Across the Galata bridge, awesome fish sandwiches a-go-go. Topkapi palace along with all the Turkish weekend tourists (we queued for everything!). And then we were able to fulfil a lifelong dream and nightmare for two of my travelling companions at one venue – the Grand Bazaar. HRH had dreamt of bargaining at the Istanbul grand bazaar since she was a mini-princess and Dave had not even known the nightmare could be so bad. One hour in Dave withdrew (but not before he pretended to be her husband to get a better price on a cotton throw) and three hours in I had to withdraw too. HRH was suitably happy with her purchases though. We rewarded Dave with a visit to the spice bazaar – I was in nut and dried fruit heaven.

Istanbul food highlights

Fish sandwich joy!

Fasulye (spicy broad beans) at Tarihi Suleymani Yeli Kuru Fasulyeci (Prof Siddik Sami Onar Cadessi 11, Istanbul)

Pide and kepab at Karadeniz Aile Pide ve Kebap Salonu (Haci Tahsin Bey Sokak 1, Istanbul)

Stuffed apricots and sultan's paste from the spice bazaar

Fish sandwich (photo R) from the boats near the galata bridge

*names have been changed to protect the identity of some