Turkey - Pt 3

Our tour ended with a few days back in Istanbul. We stopped at the Kircilar Leather Outlet, where we were given Turkish tea or wine or raki while we watched a fashion show. Gail bought one of their lovely soft sheepskin leather jackets (could not talk Don into one of course!). See Ruth of our tour group in the fashion show pic with a male model.

That night we went to a dinner and belly dance show at a local nightclub. Unlike examples in Australia, the Turkish belly dancers were slim and muscular and demonstrated amazing control of their stomach muscles.

Our last full day in Istanbul was jam-packed with events. First we visited the Blue Mosque (interior and exterior pics below), so named for its 21043 blue Iznik tiles on the inside (a special style made for sultans, no longer in production).

Then we visited the famous Aya Sofia (means Divine Wisdom). It was first a Byzantine basilica, then a mosque, now a museum. It is the largest ancient building in Istanbul. See its interior in following two pics.

 

Next was the Topkapi Palace, a walled city perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn waterways. It was built in the 15th century as a residence for Ottoman sultans (some sultans never left the palace in their entire lives). After the Turkish Republic was established after World War 1, it became a museum. We joined a long queue to look at the Treasury, where some of the world's largest diamonds and emeralds are on display. The pic below is the entrance to Topkapi.

In Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, there are more than 4000 shops, cafes and tea houses. We had lunch there and Gail also haggled for a good price on a turquoise bracelet - from 120 to 55 Turkish lira. The following two pics are the entrance and interior of the Bazaar.

Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed a cruise on the Bosphorus waterway, past Ottoman palaces, mansions, fortresses and mosques. We passed a Starbucks said to have "the best view in the world"! The pic below shows the Domabahce Palace, the modern palace that the sultans moved into after they found Topkapi too old fashioned.

That night we ate dinner in historic Kumkapi Street, famous for its fish restaurants, very noisy but atmospheric, with travelling musicians and fat belly dancer. See Gail in centre of photo below.

 

The following morning our tour ended and we were able to sleep in (no 5.15am wake up call!). The tour was good value for money, our guide was the best and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It was a very intense week and we could not keep up the pace for any longer.

Next update will cover Greece.