After a days sunshine in Istanbul and the end of Ramadam, Istanbul turned on some wet and cold weather which didn't interfere at all with our sightseeing but did tempt us in to buying a leather jacket (Paul) and a long sleeve T-shirt for Robby.
Our hotel was well located on the edge of the Marmara Sea in the old city of Sultanahmet and just around the corner from the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Basiclica Cistern. What a spot!
We arrived the last day of Ramadam and the beginning of Bayram which for many of us does not mean a lot but here in Istanbul, it is a time to eat up big, time with the family, loads of free sweets and restaurants full of beautiful aromas, turkish music, happy people offering special deals on everything from carpets to leather coats, ceremics or a meal in a restaurnat.. The Grand Bizarre closed for 3 days.
Mosques are prolific and their grey/blue colour provide a changing vista as the sun or clouds or rain cover the atmosphere. The singing of the muftis or other significant religious head provided hourly echoes of prayer across the city.
The population of this city is the same as that of Australia. It is huge.
We were delighted when friends Ron and Cheryl, who are currently living in the United Arab Emerites, joined us for the weekend. The exchange of adventures and experiences filled the air over a very good bottle of red and white wine that Ron happened to pick up on his way over. And, as the sun set and the Blue Mosque lit up it really reminded us that we are in such a unique, beautiful and different city. The next two days were spent visiting the major attractions, eating extravagently including sampling the taste sensations of the beautiful sweets. The final night of their stay we celebrated in style at one of the worlds oldest towers called Galata Tower and twere entertained for 3 hours non stop by belly dancers, oriental dancers, musicians a very enetertaining singer and was provided with a delicious international meal and free drinks. Ron and Cheryl were stars as they represented Australia in a very good version of belly dancing. Paul's impersonation of a bull as the Spanish people danced to viva espanola and waved the table napkin as the cape to invite the bull was very funny.
It's been great to meet friends again and with Cheryl in her new leather jacket we bid them farewell as they returned to their new home in the UAE.
We decided that we hadn't done Istanbul justice so we spent an additional two days enjoying the Spice Markets, the Grand Bizzare, art galleries and a cruise up the Bosphorus - viewing both the European and Asian side of Istanbul. It is a grand city.
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