2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

[Deleted member 29185]

I've just received the offer.

At the moment, work commitments may rule me out which is very disappointing. I'd love to attend.

 

[amaroo]

What are your dates?

IST dates....

Flying mermaid 19th - 20th
Atleastonce 18th - 19th
amaroo 18th - 21st EDIT - we check-out on the 22nd

Any other takers?

18th - 26th although the first day will probably be a right off for me as i am travelling for 22hrs with 2 kids, SWMBO and a friend

Looking like the 19th. Plenty of time for the second rounders to get on board .... maybe a Mod (please) could start a first post sticky so we can build-up participant interest ? Would be great to have an IST AFF event leading into such a momentous occasion.

Any ideas where we should meet?

 

[Pushka]

Probably not near a Mosque. They aren't a fan of alcohol.

There are wonderful roof top restaurants and cafes in Sultanahmet with views all over the old city. Maybe meet in a large hotel and make your way to one of those?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes I was going to suggest we meet at the four seasons where Amaroo is staying as we don't know each other - as Pushka said there is a plethora of places to eat. Why don't we meet at say 1ish on the 19th and have lunch/drink - that gives time for morning and afternoon sight seeing and FS is very near all the sights so not hard to get to. We will be in Karakoy as that is where the cruise ship comes in - we didn't get to walk across the Galata Bridge last time we were there so we can walk across it from the ship and then meet up - happy to do later in the day as well. By the way I really recommend the underground water cistern once you have done big tickets items like the mosques and Topkapi.

 

[Pushka]

Those cisterns are amazing. MrP wondered what on earth we were doing until he walked into the caverns.



View from a Terrace restaurant.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yeah cisterns sound totally boring, but they blew us away as well! And fresh baclava - not normally a fan, but couldn't resist the stuff from the bakeries - esp one - I think it was a chocolate hazelnut baclava!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You lot keep up this talk and I may have to alter my work commitments (or at least try to alter them). I have until the 25th to accept.

 

[Flying mermaid]

You lot keep up this talk and I may have to alter my work commitments (or at least try to alter them). I have until the 25th to accept.

Do it - you know you want to ......

 

[Pushka]

Yeah cisterns sound totally boring, but they blew us away as well! And fresh baclava - not normally a fan, but couldn't resist the stuff from the bakeries - esp one - I think it was a chocolate hazelnut baclava!

Turkey claims they developed Baklava. It's sensational. And Turkish delight with pistachio nuts.

And these. They are available from street vendors everywhere. The crispest crust and fresh inner fluffy bread and filled with chocolate.

 

[Pushka]

And the pastry shops.



Meze platter

 

[Flying mermaid]

Apple tea! I became quite addicted to that. How did I miss something filled with chocolate? Ooh so looking forward to going back!

 

[Pushka]

That Apple tea. MrP thought it was a dressing or something and went to pour it on his plate.

It was very nice indeed.

The tables were squat ones. The lady next to me (younger I might add but much fluffier) had to be hauled up by her husband. Mr P looked at me aghast. But, my new gym programme meant I was able to simply stand straight up without hanging on - it was just like standing up from using the Bosu ball (half a gym ball).

It was this restaurant and the red bus goes straight past it.



The ladies baking the bread are in the window.

 

[Pushka]

Apple tea! I became quite addicted to that. How did I miss something filled with chocolate? Ooh so looking forward to going back!

Look for the vendors that had Nutella in their carts. There were other fillings too.

Then there were the candy toffee makers around the back of Haga Sophia.

Can you tell I'm enjoying reliving our Istanbul trip earlier this year?

 

[amaroo]

Yes I was going to suggest we meet at the four seasons where Amaroo is staying as we don't know each other - as Pushka said there is a plethora of places to eat. Why don't we meet at say 1ish on the 19th and have lunch/drink - that gives time for morning and afternoon sight seeing and FS is very near all the sights so not hard to get to. We will be in Karakoy as that is where the cruise ship comes in - we didn't get to walk across the Galata Bridge last time we were there so we can walk across it from the ship and then meet up - happy to do later in the day as well. By the way I really recommend the underground water cistern once you have done big tickets items like the mosques and Topkapi.

Sounds good. Happy to go with the flow for location, date and time ... although the FS Terrace bar does look like a great place to raise a flute.

 

[Flying mermaid]

More than happy to fit in with anything - as you know the FS in sultanahmet is one of my favourite hotels - very disappointed that I won't be staying there again, so a drink there would be nice......depends on the weather though - could be chilly in April.

 

[amaroo]

More than happy to fit in with anything - as you know the FS in sultanahmet is one of my favourite hotels - very disappointed that I won't be staying there again, so a drink there would be nice......depends on the weather though - could be chilly in April.

Good point! At least we won't have to put up with the stinky feet "issue" at the Blue Mosque that Cruiser Elite had to endure

Weather Averages for Istanbul in April

	Temperature	12°C 54°F
	Low Temperature	8°C 46°F
	High Temperature	16°C 61°F

Sunshine Hours

9 hrs

	Rainfall	60mm
Rainfall days	11 days

Sea Temperature

13°C 55°F

 

[Pushka]

We didn't get the stinky feet in July. But this was offensive.

 

[straitman]

We didn't get the stinky feet in July. But this was offensive.

View attachment 36058

Because of the colours () or lack of sleeves:?:

 

[Pushka]

I'm surprised he got away with the lack of sleeves, (probably just shoulder cover ups for men) but maybe the multiple men checking all the tourists (I'd say 10?) were Collingwood fans.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

At least he had his most prized possessions safe and sound in the plastic bag...........his thongs