No matter how much you think some things don't or won't change, they do! We have learned that the shuttle bus that ran between the two airports in Istanbul no longer does so. Our return trip through the city which was going to be a seamless bus ride from "here" to "there" has turned into a bus/light tram/light rail trip! Fortunately it will be early enough in the morning that we should encounter fewer folks on the tram and rail segments. All this discovered at 04:00 today when Marty's body wasn't sure if it should be awake or asleep! Guess it was a good thing because it eliminates the surprise it would have become on 2 December.
Just heard that Russia will ban carry-on Duty Free alcohol (or they are seriously considering it)! Need to follow up on that one. But you know, we've all been on those international flights when someone is sipping away from a duty free bottle of booze. Nice that it might go away. Maybe other countries will consider banning it as well. Would not break my heart. It would be even more interesting if one could buy the duty free stuff in one country but pick it up upon entry into their destination country. Just something to think about.
We have the day to spend here in Istanbul, have not figured out just what we'll be doing yet as it is still early enough that little is open. For sure, Grand Bazaar awaits and a chat with our good friend Turgay to catch up on things from politics to family.
So on with the rest of our day.
Breakfast in the rooftop restaurant of the Hali gives a great view of both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Marty got carried away with her new iPad and the Photo Booth app which allows her to take shots with interesting effects. The kaleidoscope and mirror effects are two of her favorites.
We got to visit our friend Turgay in the Grand Bazaar. He is the ONE and ONLY one we would buy a carpet from in Turkey. He is a great guy, married to a Brit and has two lovely children. We met him before he married and became a dad, so it has been fun to see the changes in him that those things have brought.
Turgay is also the most honest of carpet dealers. He won't sell you a carpet until he has educated you (if you need it) about carpets. It is one of the reasons we have always enjoyed doing business with him because we are well informed about the product we are acquiring.
We spent some time near the fountain near the Blue Mosque and Marty got carried away taking photos using the Photo Booth camera app on the iPad which lets you do some interesting and sometime silly things. But that is what it is all about right?
This is what you end up with when you focus on the water minimizing the Hagia Sophia. Some really interesting things start to happen and in the future maybe this photo will be cropped and played with for additional emphasis on some of the parts. See photo above.
Over the past year the city of Istanbul renovated this area, new tiles, new paved (with stone) access streets. It is very, very nice indeed.
The ferries on the Bosphorus are like bees that are never still. We always enjoy getting down near the terminals to watch the boats coming and going. The ferries move an incredible number of people every hour. And the ferries make the different parts of the city accessible in different ways than the metro.
There are many lovely parks in Istanbul. One we enjoy is located just below Topkapi. This park just seems to get better every time we visit. In the spring is it loaded with tulips and other flowers. On this visit we heard the parrots as well as saw them. They are a beautiful green. The name of this park is Yildiz. For anyone who has not visited the park, put it on your list of places to go in Istanbul.
One of the interesting parts of any mosque is the area where men wash their feet (and I think hands and face) before going to prayer. This shot is of that area in the Blue Mosque.
Well, we have a first....we missed our flight to Tbilisi so now we are sitting in an airport hotel at an outrageous nightly fee which somewhat would have equalled the cost of getting back into the city and paying for a hotel there...so it all equals out. Don't ask how we missed the flight it is too painful. The missed flight has just postponed our arrival in Tbilisi by 24 hours.
Just heard that Russia will ban carry-on Duty Free alcohol (or they are seriously considering it)! Need to follow up on that one. But you know, we've all been on those international flights when someone is sipping away from a duty free bottle of booze. Nice that it might go away. Maybe other countries will consider banning it as well. Would not break my heart. It would be even more interesting if one could buy the duty free stuff in one country but pick it up upon entry into their destination country. Just something to think about.
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| View toward Golden Horn from Hali Hotel rooftop. |
So on with the rest of our day.
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| Kaleidoscope effect using Photo Booth camera application on iPad. |
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| Turgay in his carpet shop, Anatolian Carpet |
We got to visit our friend Turgay in the Grand Bazaar. He is the ONE and ONLY one we would buy a carpet from in Turkey. He is a great guy, married to a Brit and has two lovely children. We met him before he married and became a dad, so it has been fun to see the changes in him that those things have brought.
Turgay is also the most honest of carpet dealers. He won't sell you a carpet until he has educated you (if you need it) about carpets. It is one of the reasons we have always enjoyed doing business with him because we are well informed about the product we are acquiring.
We spent some time near the fountain near the Blue Mosque and Marty got carried away taking photos using the Photo Booth camera app on the iPad which lets you do some interesting and sometime silly things. But that is what it is all about right?
Over the past year the city of Istanbul renovated this area, new tiles, new paved (with stone) access streets. It is very, very nice indeed.
The ferries on the Bosphorus are like bees that are never still. We always enjoy getting down near the terminals to watch the boats coming and going. The ferries move an incredible number of people every hour. And the ferries make the different parts of the city accessible in different ways than the metro.
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| David in Yildiz Park. |
One of the interesting parts of any mosque is the area where men wash their feet (and I think hands and face) before going to prayer. This shot is of that area in the Blue Mosque.
Well, we have a first....we missed our flight to Tbilisi so now we are sitting in an airport hotel at an outrageous nightly fee which somewhat would have equalled the cost of getting back into the city and paying for a hotel there...so it all equals out. Don't ask how we missed the flight it is too painful. The missed flight has just postponed our arrival in Tbilisi by 24 hours.
I love your posts! So great to stay in the loop.
ReplyDeleteHow do you get rugs home? Does Turgay ship them for you? If you need something to do in your delayed 24 hours, you can rug shop for us - we would love one!! Haha! Actually, I am hoping that we will make it there some day - once Marsh is old enough to stay with Grandparents for a week or so. We will have to meet Turgay!
Hope you get to Tbilisi without any more problems.