Constantinople!

While I remember . If readers click on the photos it opens in better quality , I notice some of the pics look a bit shite.

Presently on a tram in rainy Istanbul.

Just done the Blue mosque. Had to wait for the locals to finish prayers. Went down to the Bosphorus for a fish sandwich. Served with onion and lettuce Not from the local waters. A Norwegian mackerel!

Visited the grand bazaar , which although it sells a lot of tourist tat, fake handbags, phones etc is still pretty impressive.Nothing like the dirty old characterful traditional bazaar of 30 yrs back.  Was going into the Topkali palace, but they wanted €30  . I can get a room for the night for that!

 

Best thing so far has been the Roman built cistern .

Stunning. 

As ever the people are great . Met a rug seller this morning who didn’t try and sell me anything but was really helpful and we talked about everything including Erdogen. Interest rates here are 40% and inflation 400 . Not surprising they’re charging what they do in marinas! A bit annoying that entry to these tourist sights are 80 lire for nationals and 420 for foreigners (cistern) less than 3€ vs 14 bloody racists.

Back at hotel now with lovely view of Bosphoros- not.

Power cut in process so shower by phone and some toe rag has got a massive generator mounted on his roof opposite so hope that doesn’t go on all night.

Main activity appears to be mosqueing here, they are impressive, probably do a couple more tomorrow.

The famous Blue actually it’s Sultan Ahmed mosque.

TAF