Month: August 2011

We were up fairly early and down to breakfast and then went out around the shops. Back to the hotel just before twelve to pack and leave our luggage in their secure room.

Back out again for some lunch and then we went to the huge park. The whole time we were in Istanbul it was a lovely breeze and a good temperature, we had visions of sweltering as it was a city in August but not at all.

The statue of course is Ataturk.

We returned to the hotel about 5 and waited for our shuttle back to the airport. Another hair raising ride back to the airport! The flight was an hour and 15 minutes and Chris collected us at the aiport and we were home by just about midnight. Thank you Chris. Thank you also to SuperGary for looking after our pool and watering while we were away.

We bought some things at Duty free on entering Ercan airport and I was short changed, oh dear, the minute my feet touch TRNC soil! Of course I asked for the rest of my change! I wonder how much they ‘make’ out of unsuspecting tourists who are not used to the currency.

We will be back again to Istanbul, we love it!

 

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We decided to take the tour bus around Istanbul as on our last visit we walked our feet off.  So, we got to see a lot we hadn’t seen before including the stadium where Besiktas play. We walked from Taksim Square back to the bridge where all the fishermen are and had one of their famous fish sandwiches for lunch. You can’t get fish much fresher and the little boat cafes are always packed. You will notice the taxi crash on the bridge!

Mal decided we would take a short cut on the way back to the hotel. That was through the Grand Bazaar…ha ha. For anyone who hasn’t been it is enormous and once you are inside, it is difficult to get out again! His geography leaves a lot to be desired and we ended up just around the corner from where we started!

We had a shower and then joined the throngs back where the locals were all waiting for the sun to go down at 8.30 and start eating (Ramadan). It was packed and Mal and I were really amused at the masses of them coming with their picnics and flasks, ready for the ‘off’. We then decided to go to a restaurant Doy Doy, that we had eaten in before. Silly us, it was full as all the locals had then started eating. We ended up going back to the hotel hoping that there would be a table left on the terrace. We were lucky and were given the last table. Another excellent meal.

 

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We crept out of Torin’s house at 3.30 in the morning and headed for Luton airport.  On the plane and we were waiting for some late passengers. Six girls were already on the plane and obviously friends of theirs had a problem. A scuffle followed with the senior air hostess being pushed out of the plane by one of the girls and the language was not good either. So, the Police were called, they were escorted off the plane and all their luggage had to be taken off! This of course meant that we were an hour and a half late taking off. But good for Easyjet having zero tolerance.

When we arrived at Istanbul airport we had booked the 10 euro shuttle to Sultanahmet. The driver was standing waiting for us with a board with our names on.  A few other people got on the shuttle bus with us. Well, to say he was a bit of a mad driver was an understatement. He was going up one way streets the wrong way and making all the traffic back up, he nearly knocked an old man over, came face to face with a tram and had to reverse etc etc. Luckily we arrived at the hotel in one piece.

We had a lovely room with independant air con (unusual in a lot of hotels). As soon as we arrived the customer relations girl gave us a map and  asked us what we wanted to see whilst we were there and gave us local tips.

Up to the room and unpacked and then went out. It was the first day of Ramadan and we discovered that theatre groups, music and stalls were all prepared for the evening.

We ate in the hotel that evening. One of the reasons we booked this hotel was because we had eaten in their restaurant the last visit and it was good Ottoman food. The hotel lived up to their restaurant.  Excellent food as always which we had on the terrace. It was the Erboy Hotel.

 

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