Day 14

Friday 9th October

 

I had a great day today as it was a free

day in Istanbul, my last day in Turkey.    

I was off early and over the bridge to the

old city travelling on the light rail.   

 The public transport is cheap, efficient 

and easy to use and the token  costs 

2 Turkish Lira which is about $1-10.. 

The locals were very busy setting up their 

stalls and getting ready for their day.   

I went back to the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque and sat watching the people wander by. 

It was very crowded at the Mosque for it was closed for an hour for prayers.  The public were waiting outside till they could go in and the men were crowding around removing their shoes and preparing to go in.  There is a smaller area inside the mosques for women to pray. 

The building is so spectacular; you just want to keep taking photos to capture its beauty.

I caught the light rail back over the bridge and up to Taksim Square situated in the European part of Istanbul.  It is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels.   It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, and is the location of the Republic Monument, which was built in 1928 and commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic.   I walked down the main street  past top end shops and food outlets  and had some borek for lunch.  A delicious slice made with filo pastry and filled with spinach and feta cheese, straight off the hot plate and delicious. 

  Back down to our hotel for a quick rest then out again to the Basilica Cistern built in 532 AD which is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city.  The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the various palaces and buildings that were adjacent to it and it continued to provide water to the Topkapi Palace into modern times………… and finally to the Spice Bazaar again for some last minute gift shopping. 

I walked back to the hotel over the bridge past families out enjoying the late afternoon and diners enjoying a meal in the water side restaurants.  Back to the hotel after about 7 hours wandering around, a quick shower and room service…..  Leaving 10 am tomorrow for the long trip home. 

I am writing this at 3-30am after getting back to Sydney at 8 pm last night... What Jet Lag....??.