Well what can I say but getting to Turkey took us a great deal more time then we planned and we didn't have a great start to the trip. Arriving at the airport in enough time after picking up a couple of people running late for another flight, we had to wait in a huge line to be told "f**k" you by a rude Mongolian who I told off for pushing in. So after clearing immigration we boarded the plane to only then return to the terminal to be off loaded from the plane. We found out that due to the cross winds the airport was now closed. No one could tell us when the flight would leave. Then around lunch time we where loaded into a small bus to be taken to an out of the way hotel for lunch called the "Mongolica". It was a little weird as we didn't know where we were going and when we finally arrived at the lunch location it was totally off the beaten track. I was laughing as it felt like we had entered a reality TV show or something. Lunch turned out to be very nice and then we headed back to the UB airport to fill out forms again to go back through immigration and finally be boarding the plane.
Finally on our way after nine hours of waiting you would think that would be the end of it, "What was I thinking?".
We hit the Moscow airport after a six hour flight to find the transit desk overwhelmed with people in the same boat as us, missing their connecting flights. We where lucky to get a later flight to Istanbul that day. I think standing at the counter saying over and over again "Istanbul, Istanbul, I want to go to Istanbul" jokingly with a smile on my face finally got heard, some other travellers joined in adding their destination into my little song as we could all see the funny side of our situation. Getting the new boarding pass was like receiving a winning ticket we where travelling on a later two hour flight and not having to spend the night in the airport. "Thanks you to the boarding pass gods"
Thursday Day 1 - Woke up and had a awesome breakfast, there was a range breads, olives, interesting condiments and the most freshest bread I have ever tasted, The Maywood Hotel where we were staying sure knows how to put of a good breakfast. The coffee went down hill after a couple of days and that was the only negative thing I could say.
After breakfast we decided to go and visit the Blue Mosque which was a short walk away from our hotel. The tour buses had already started to arrive and so had the rain.
The line up to get in was about a fifteen minute wait. Having to take your shoes off before on entering slowed everything down. The Mosque was huge inside and a section was roped off which seemed to keep everyone in the one section. The roof and walls had amazing decoration on it that I wanted to lay on the ground and look up. The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and sure was an impressive building.
We then headed to the Tile Museum which was interesting to see as well. These tile pictures had been uncovered in some works and to get up close to each tiled picture, you could see the detail and it makes you think "How long did each picture take to complete".
Outside the Maywood Hotel, Istanbul
Paige at breakfast
The selection of olives and some fresh honey
Paige saying hello to a local pet
Shops opening
Paige and Ben checking out a window full of yummy things to eat
Paige and Ben standing in front of the fountain between the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sofia
The Blue Mosque
The fountains where people wash before heading in the pray
Paige in front of a very large door
Inside the Blue Mosque
The cleaner
One of the walls of the Blue Mosque
Ben reading information about the tiles
Up close to see the small tiles
Tiled picture stretches along the floor
The pictures are in great detail
We strolled through the Arastra Bazaar which was kind of like a lane way where we found a number of different shops.
Looking down the lane of the bazaar
Stopping for a bite to eat
We also took a stroll in the Spice Bazaar but we decided that we would return on a different day to explore more.
Then we headed to Topkapi Palace. The rain kept coming down and standing in the line for tickets wasn't really fun at all. The Topkapi Palace stage one was build in 1453. Interesting buildings but I am not quite sure why we had to pay extra to get into the Harem but we did as we wanted to see what it was all about. The Harem was a place where the sultan could engage in debauchery at will this seems to be as a popular belief but in reality every detail of Harem life was governed by tradition, obligation and ceremony. The word Harem literally means private. The building was interesting and to see some of the tile work was also interesting to see, nothing you get back in Australia.
Lining up in the rain, Bernadette in black
Entrance to Topkapi Palace
Tile work on the Palace roof
Paige walking in part of the Harem
Tiled fire place
What women might wear
Water fountain in Sultan's room
Doors between rooms
Outside of the Harem
A part of the grounds inside the palace
A popular snack
Paige liked the corn cobs
Stopping for our first Turkish coffee
Roof top view looking at the Blue Mosque
Beer anyone? No not really a pineapple drink that looks like beer
Friday Day 2:
We wanted to get an early start so we headed to the Ayasofya (Haghia Sofia). It is now a museum and built by the Emperor Justinian between AD 527-65. The dome dome has been rebuilt over time. It was a wonderful looking building inside that we where able to wonder around in. Over the years tiles mosaic pictures have been uncovered and I think is one of the highlights to see.
Outside the museum
Looking up inside
The Playfords
Carved stone work
It is said if you put your thumb in this whole in the below picture and if it comes out damp you will be cured of any sickness. Paige decided to do as some people where doing.
Up stairs level
Some tiled pictures
Another tiled picture
We then headed to the Basilica Cistern which is a subterranean structure built in 532. The Cristern's roof is 65 meters wide and 143 meters long. It is supported by 336 columns arranged in 12 rows. The Cistern once held 80,000 cubic meters of water. There are two interesting columns in the northwestern corner supported by blocks carved Medusa heads. No one knows why the carved blocks where used but it was very interesting to see them.
Inside the Basilica Cistern
Carved blocks of Medusa
After the history it was off to check out the Grand Bazaar. The heart of the city it is said, with over 4000 shops and several kilometres of lanes. Not sure what to expect but very easy to get lost after a while as you get so caught up with looking around you forget where you are.
One of the entrances to the Grand Bazzar
One of the shopping lanes
Ben finds a uniform shop
Saturday Day 3 : Today turns out I was hit with a tummy bug oh well its all apart of the travelling experience. We decided to head out and check out a couple of the modern shopping centres which are a little bit out of the city. We decided to catch a taxi and we got to travelling up the Golden Horn. When you move out of the heart of the city you get a better picture of how built up Istanbul really is.
Paige having some fun in a big ball
Paige having trouble standing up
Dinner we spent with some friend we know from Vietnam, Hazel and Jeff. It was really nice to catch up after such a long time. Hazel and Jeff took us to try the famous fish sandwiches that you can have under the bridge.
The bridge
Owner of the restaurant, Jeff, Hazel and Bernadette
Boat unloading the passengers
After dinner Hazel and Jeff took us to a little hotel where we watched the sun set over the Aya Sofya on of our favorite places we saw.
Bernadette, Paige and Ben
Hazel, Paige and Jeff
A place to sit an drink tea
Sunday Day Four : The tummy bug hits Ben so we where a good pair. After finding a chemist for some extra medicine for our tummies we decided to take a ferry ride over to the Navel Museum. The ferry trip was easy to do and it was really nice to travel on the Bosphorus.
View from the ferry
Ben and Paige on the ferry
Paige enjoying the ferry ride
Inside the Navel Museum
A large tourist boat
Monday Day 5 : It was a early start as we did a day trip to Gallipoli. It was going to be a long day five hours each way but it was worth it. It was an eye opener to have learnt about Gallipoi in school and to finally visit it gave us a better understanding at what the ANZACs went through. It was hard not to have a lump in your throat. The tour was very interesting and we learnt alot about the Turkish side to Gallipoli.
Along the road
The bus
Yum, the best tomatoes in the world
ANZAC COVE
Tour Guide
Paige, Ben and Bernadette at ANZAC Cove
Ben wondering through the head stones
Remembering the Turkish Solider helping an ANZAC solider
Lone Pine
The youngest solider to die
Paige wrapped in the Australian flag, the only one to be seen
A Turkish trench
The Turkish grave site
Remembering a great Turkish solider
Trench the ANZAC dug
Tuesday Day 6 : Today being our last day we decided to head back to the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar. The Spice Market was a little smaller then the Grand Bazaar. You can find a range of products there from spices, nuts, honey, figs, Turkish delight, coffee and much more. The Spice Market was opened in the 1660's.
One of the entrances in to the Spice Bazaar
After we left the bazaars I decided to try a Turkish bath. An interesting experience to say the least. Basically you have some one wash you from head to toe. You become very clean. I think you have to try these things and when in Turkey one is a Turkish bath.
Bernadette and Paige outside the Turkish bath
Reception area of the Turkish bath
What can I say we found Turkey to be full of history and amazing buildings. The food was nice but we are over the lamb wrapped in bread. It was an interesting holiday and where so glad to be able to visit Turkey. We found people very friendly and thought it is a place that we may return to but I think we would visit a different area. I think visiting Istanbul once is something everyone should do in their life time.
