Bass Strait to the Black Sea.

[turtlemichael]

If I recall correctly, the building goes back to the 500's and was the largest building in the world for a thousand years. Amazing and great pix too.

 

[meloz]

The Hagia Sophia, one of my favourite destinations in travel. Amazing.

Loving the report.

Meloz

 

[amaroo]

Wow - it just gets better!

 

[jetlagger]

drron.. I used to wait in eager anticipation for my morning newspaper to arrive.. far too underwhelming of late.. nowadays I eagerly wait in optimistic anticipation of your TR updates.. It provides a realistic, timely entertaining travel narration of your journey, with the added bonus of the gorgeous photo collection. So, thank you so very much more taking the time & effort to share with us

 

[Masonic Phantom]

drron.. I used to wait in eager anticipation for my morning newspaper to arrive.. far too underwhelming of late.. nowadays I eagerly wait in optimistic anticipation of your TR updates.. It provides a realistic, timely entertaining travel narration of your journey, with the added bonus of the gorgeous photo collection. So, thank you so very much more taking the time & effort to share with us

Also......How was the cruise?????

M.P.

 

[drron]

Also......How was the cruise?????

M.P.

The cruise iscoming.Just hard to sort out tghe 500 photos of Topkapi Palace!But it was very enjoyable.
So after leaving the Hagia Sophia it was round to the Topkapi Palace.Even getting there there were some great scenes-

Seeing all the busses lined up meant this was going to be crowded.Someone always got in the shot.Though there was one guy who just wasn't going to move-

So just the model to show you the scale of this place-

The first stop was the Treasury where all the loot is kept.It was such a crowd going in we missed the No Photos sign so we each got a shot off before told very sternly-No More.So some traditional dress-

So the next few posts will be of the Palace

 

[drron]

Now the Inner courtyard and views-

The last picture was of the lines we avoided going into the Harem by having the Museum card.So to the Harem-

 

[drron]

More from the Harem.Did I forget to tell you mrsdrron loves tiles?

Now a job I would not apply for-

Nor would I have wanted to be caught here-

Unfortunately Mum often had the last word-

 

[jetlagger]

If only we had a shade of the talented architectural work person engineering in Australia nowadays.. An inspiration for my homely renovations..

 

[drron]

And still more of the Harem.Why am I fixated on this subject?

But only the good got views-

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for the efforts guys, great reading!

 

[drron]

And now the final tile pictures with the odd door thrown in to break the monotony-

 

[drron]

And finally I can get my mind out of the harem-

But is this the Stairway to Heaven?

Now what would my mind turn to but food.This is a very small part of the kitchen and then some shots as we walk out-

And next of course is lunch!

 

[drron]

Another tip for the Topkapi Palace-between 1200-1400 all the tour groups are taken somewhere to be ripped off for lunch so it was actually reasonably quiet during these 2 hours.Therefore we had a late lunch at the restaurant just inside the Palace grounds.The Museum Card gives you 10% discount on gift shops and restauramnts within the various properties so we did get good value out of our card despite a couple of museums being closed for renovations.
I needed one of these and mrsdrron couldn't do without the second-with a little help from me after my thirst was taken care of-

This was the best white wine we had in Turkey,others were very forgettable.I had the stuffed vine leaves and a yoghurt dip,mrsdrron a chicken schnitzel-

Food wasnt too bad and bill 98 TLS($54)would have been less than half without the alcohol.
A slow walk back to the tram-for the second day the pedometer was showing >17km.Mrsdrron saw some lamps she loved but decided just too hard to get home-

At the ticket machines for the tram there was a young girl no more than 6-7 who tried her hardest to get me to use a particular machine.I declined but another old gentleman used it and put his coins in -nothing happened.When he walked off she put her hand in and pullled out the token and change-she put them in a plastic bag that looked nearly full.The tram was not packed like sardines as usual,more like whitebait!
Back to the hotel,had a cold showere,laid down and awoke 2 hours later.We still had fruit,baklava and Turkish delight so that became dinner as we watched the Wimbledon final..
Next-the Grand Bazaar.

 

[drron]

Monday was a much more relaxed day.The Grand Bazaar was just a short walk.What a fascinating experience.We stayed about 4 hours.You can buy anything-

Plenty of places to eat but quality-hmmm.So do you want bread with that?

The kebab will be ready in seconds-

So whilst there we just had a nice cooling lemonade.Walked towards Sultanahmet and just down from the Bazaar we noticed a small cemetery-

Walked down the little lane and a veritable oasis with fi trees,grapes a couple of stores and a mosque-

With the usual foot washing facility.
Lunch next.

 

[drron]

We wlked to the same restaurant we had dinner at 2 nights before.greeted profusely with-"Welcome back Donald Sutherland".Possibly it tempted another few to eat there by the reaction.Mrsdrron had the chicken wings which were moist and nice whilst I had the Iskender-

Lunch was 61TLs with a beer and lemonade($35).We were already exhausted,hot and sweaty so back to the DT for a nap.Once again decided on the simple dinner of fruit and baklava.

Tuesday-leisurely breakfast before catching the tram to the Blue Mosque.Again quite impressive.However you do have to wonder about some people-if you have read anything you must know that somewhat conservative dress is required to visit a mosque.Many though totally ignored the suggestion and scarves and sarongs handed out to man and woman alike.Anyway to the pics-

Next-our last 24 hours before the cruise.

 

[drron]

After visiting the Blue Mosque we went to the rear of the mosque-the Porcelain Museum is there but It was closed.There is however an "Old Bazaar".The places claim they only sell high quality merchandise but you would have to be sure of yourself before paying $A300 for a single tile.They do put the broken pieces to good use.As you can see though it is not a hugely popular shopping venue-

We continued walking down the street which lead to the waterfront.It is a one way street but this didn't stop a taxi being different-

Down by the Sea of Marmara the trawlers were coming in to the nearby Fish Market,the smaller fishing boats returned to less salubrious surrounds-

We then enjoyed a fresh lemonade at a deserted restaurant.Then I made a big mistake-decided to walk back along the waterfront-much further than I expected and mrsdrron was not amused.Although the waterfront here is a typical rock breakwater people were sunbaking,having picnics,swimming and fishing from the rocks-temperature was in the high 30's.We finally made it back to the gardens beside the Topkapi and got some shade.Then had lunch at the Han cafe-had kebabs that made Uncle Tony's look fantastic.Definitely avoid.

Back to the DT and dinner was Pides off the street which were way better than lunch and cost for 1 chicken and 1 beef-7TLs($4).

Wednesday and today is the day for boarding the Silver Wind.A very leisurely breakfast before checkout at 1145.As we go outside the 1 taxi waiting outside takes off forcing the doorman to get a passing taxi.Tells us that the fare should be no more than 20TL.We set off and get the meter started.Fellow then tells us too much traffic the normal way and he will take us a longer but quicker way.Afyter he has made the U turn he tells us the fare will be 45-50 Euro(99-110TL).No way-will only pay the meter.He then starts reading the paper on the seat next to him-when we get to the pier the paper is hiding the meter and of course it had been switched off.He then demands 40 Euro.I give him only 20TL as soon as the bags are out of the boot.He obviously swears at us and takes off.He gets the last laugh as though we can see the bow of the Wind directly in front of us we have to go about 500 metres to the stern to get onto the wharf-so over a km walk in the heat and over cobblestones to get there.


So although Istanbul has some really impressive features it fails to impress us so we will definitely not be repeat visitors.Too much hassling and downright scams,unimpressive and usually not cheap food-we declined on fish meals after seeing the conditions in which they were handled.As well the price in better looking restaurants were not cheap and often in excess of $50 per kg.Give me a fresh snapper at Mooloolaba any day.

Next-The Cruise finally begins-or nearly.

 

[drron]

After being forced to walk a considerable distance in the heat because of our dishonest taxi driver we were mightly pleased to board the Silver Wind even though we had to get our passports checked 5 times before boarding and then being collected on boarding.However that feeling was relieved when they swapped a glass of champagne for our passports.

We then went up to the Pool Deck and had lunch-a crab caesar salad for me after starting with curried chicken sticks(satays).Mrsdrron started with a prawn coughtail and then the chicken caesar salad.Nice on a hot day.As became our custom during the day I would have the odd Mojito and mrsdrron the odd glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
As we finished it was time to go to our room.We had booked one of the new Medallion suites on deck 8.We enjoyed this suite.Our butler Charlie introduced himself then our maid Grace-both of whom looked after us very well.So pictures of our room-

Note the shower is beside the bath not over it.
Now some pictures from our balcony-

And with the benefit of zoom the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

At least one more post before we set sail!

 

[turtlemichael]

You've now entered, at least on this report, the delightful world of Silversea where you can say, "another mojito please" and know that you'll never see the bill. Or rather, that you've already paid for it! Nice suite with a big balcony. What category is it?

 

[drron]

Nice suite with a big balcony. What category is it?

mrs.dr.ron here ..... Rons little laptop it is easier if I keep my comments till I get home .... BUT ... we are in a Medallion suite 804, I like space so normally we have a Silver Suite, but this is our first time in a medallion and I like it, so after we hit 100 nights and get free laundry - it will be a medallion suite for us. It was a very busy cruise - very port intensive - as you will see from Rons day by day, I like a few sea days/ chill out days so different from the Incheon to Alaska cruise.

More comments from me when we get home and I have my own computer !!!!!!! ( but Ron gets my comments 24/7 )