Lost in Venice with a taste of Turkish Delight and Souvlaki

[love_the_life]

And I'm sure you jog to the boarding gate with the pockets full.
Just giving Pushka some ideas to get her purchases home.
Unfortunately for her it is hot weather there so she is likely to develop heat stroke or look decidedly out of place.

 

[Pushka]

Well that was a day and night.

Started off the day with a light breakfast. Was woken during the night with a call to prayer - I think maybe the 5am one.

The room doesn't have a Gideon's bible (auto correct made that Hideous! ) but the most beautiful book of the Qur'an. I'd love to buy it as I would read it the way it's presented.



But they've priced it at 100 euros.

Ok. Next the gym. It's an excellent gym and today it was deserted. So I worked off maybe 1/4 of the baklavas I've eaten. They are superb.

Then -



Such an amazing number of undercover lane ways that stretch for ever. But for me - way too many choices and it was overwhelming. The jewellery was beautiful. I'm a fan of blush gold and have never seen so many choices. I ended up buying a bracelet that has two eyes to ward off evil and an infinity loop.

Scarves. Carpets. Turkish delight. Soaps. Trinkets. Amazing spices. Everywhere you looked.

 

[Pushka]

The Grand Bazaar wasn't too crowded until the Costa Cruise tours started. Then it was a wall of people.

We walked down to the Egyptian Bazaar where the locals shop. Fascinating. Interesting fashions. Not. Victorian style button ups top to toe.

The plaza leading to the Egyptian Bazaar.



We then decided on an early dinner. It was pretty hot and steamy and we found a terrace restaurant overlooking the Blue Mosque.



There are so many tankers waiting to pass through Istanbul to go to the Black Sea. What is in the Black Sea? Ukraine.

 

[Pushka]

Then we thought we'd hop back to the Hotel which is across Galata Bridge. The trip usually takes 30 mins to Taksim Square. Tonight, 2 hours later we made it back as the traffic was a gridlock and the hoho bus goes to the Asian side before back to Taksim. So beware using the HoHo during peak rush.



The traffic was so bad the driver deviated from the route and took a short cut. Maybe he forgot it was a double decker.





Tomorrow an easy day with a cruise on the Bosporos. On Wednesday we fly back to Santorini for some heaven.

 

[amaroo]

Great updates!

Your comments on the horrendous traffic has reinforced my decision to select a hotel in Sultanahmet.

 

[Pushka]

Great updates!

Your comments on the horrendous traffic has reinforced my decision to select a hotel in Sultanahmet.

We said exactly the same thing last night as we sat in a highway traffic parking lot for ages. Very wise.

We were going to come here a couple of years ago but had to cancel. I'd booked into hotel Sirkecki konyeci (?) which now I'd wished we'd done this time.

Will post the same thing on trip advisor. Taksim square is just, well, weird?

One thing we are seeing is men everywhere just sitting and sometimes lying around in parks etc. They aren't homeless, they are just lying around chatting. Where are the women?

 

[drron]

The women are working of course!

 

[Pushka]

The women are working of course!

Yeah. That's what I told MrP. He wants to live in Turkey now.

 

[Pushka]

Today was a lovely day spent on a Bosphorous cruise.

We didn't want the issue of car park aka freeway getting back to the Hotel from the usual cruise departure area, plus we'd already seen the Blue Mosque etc from the sea so we decided to check out less well known spots near the waterfront about 15 minutes down the hill from the Hotel.

We found a hoho cruise that cost 15 lira ($7.50) for two hours that cruised towards the Black Sea and to the Asian area. It was a great decision.

Caught the first boat that was really spacious and comfortable with drinks and snacks but $$$ regularly offered.

The coastline up this part of Istanbul reminded us of the French Riviera. It's the expensive part of town. Beautiful waterfront homes, restaurants and boats.

Just a few shots



Our hotel peeking over the top

 

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

Turkey has declared 3 days Mourning for the Israel intrusion into Gaza. The huge flags are at half mast everywhere.



Turkey usually is circumspect when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East but the other day the President commented that Israel was the greatest hurdle in achieving peace and the USA needed to admit that.

 

[Pushka]

I can confirm that the dropped brush is a shoe shine scam.

As we walked down the hill towards the Bosphorous a shoe shine guy passed us. We laughed and said here's the test. Sure enough. Clunk. He dropped it. We just walked past. A minute later we looked back to see a man and woman having their shoes shined. Gotcha. They shook hands which meant some cash was parted with.

I said to MrP I wanted to see it one more time as the walk back up the hill would be our last in Istanbul.

About five minutes to go MrP said I was about to get my wish.

On our way back up the hill a shoe shine guy was sitting on a low wall. He got up just before we reached him and he got across the lights but we missed them. He crossed and found another wall to sit on while we waited for the lights. Here he is:



We crossed the road and he got up when we were half way across. Then, oopsie, he dropped his brush:



It was a bit messy there so not a great shot but didn't want to openly take a photo.

Travel scams. Make for great stories.

 

[Pushka]

There are stalls selling these everywhere. They are 4 liras ($2).



They are crusty little bread rolls (look like bagels) and this one had Nutella. Beautiful. A great on the run snack. Crusty and fresh.

We ended up doing the hoho boat trip twice. Not meant to do that. But it was the boats fault. They made an announcement that the trip ended at the next stop. They played it twice. So we and most others got off. Within a few seconds we realised we weren't at the right stop and turned around to see the boat chugging off.

Sigh. They guy told us the next one was in 40 mins so we decided to wait and get an icecream and I bought the bread snack. When we tried re boarding the guy told us no, this was doing the full 90 minute cycle and not back to the start point. We just piled on anyway. We'd given up by then but there are certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon.

Next time round they didn't play the Get Off message.

 

[Pushka]

[video=youtube_share;o1kyf0_OwdI]http://youtu.be/o1kyf0_OwdI[/video]

As we passed up the Bosphorous we heard the call to Prayer. A little windy but still wonderful.

 

[Magpie10]

Thanks Pushka for your wonderful TR. I am enjoying all the photos and also your insights. Hopefully will be able to use your tips on hotels and scams in the not too distant future. Thanks and can't wait for your next instalment.

 

[Pushka]

Santorini flight today. More later!

 

[Pushka]

Our verandah has a wonderful view. Sun is directly ahead for sunset bit will post a picture during breakfast tomorrow. Delivered to the room.

 

[lmere12]

Enjoying your TR Pushka, love Santorini, great to be taken back there in your TR... where are you staying ?

 

[Pushka]

Santorini has spectacular sunsets. Of course.

MrP enjoying the view from our balcony.







Then it comes alive for night shopping. The lane below our room.

 

[Pushka]

We are staying at Theoxenia at Fira, just up from the start of the Donkey Stairs. Less than 200 euros a night with Caldera view which includes American Breakfast brought to the balcony. It's really popular and you can visit the sister hotel a few minutes away that is a spa with gym and pool. The same family owns both. I'll post photos when breaky arrives.

The street below is known as Jewellery street. It has some stunning pieces. There are some beautiful pieces with that bright blue opal which is known as Santorini or Greek blue. And - it comes from Coober Pedy in Australia. It's beautiful and I'll try get some photos but they are unique designs so tricky. And they cost $$$$.

Last night MrP had souvlaki. . We didn't even start thinking of dinner until around 9.30! Must be in med mode.