0 Trip to Turkey & Cruise to Greek Islands
9/25/15 Friday Left our house at 1:30 pm on a Roadrunner LAX shuttle with just enough time to make our flight 3-hours prior to take off. Don realized that he’d left his passport at home when we were in Camarillo. The other couple (flying to Austria) said it was ok to turn around to drive to get it. That took an hour off our time. When we got to the International Airport we still had 2 hours and we rushed through the bag check-in and security. We grabbed a bite to eat and boarded the Turkish Airline’s 777 for our 12 and ½ hour flight. During the flight Joan felt sick so the flight attendant asked a woman to trade places with Don and then Joan could lie down on the vacant seat. Lucky her as she got to sleep a little, but Don couldn’t. He watched 3 movies and walked around the airplane to ease the cramps in his legs. We arrived in Istanbul around 5:00 pm on Saturday evening then stood in a long line to get through the Visa check point, picked up our bags and found the van driver who took us to Saruhan Hotel in the old town. We checked into our room then walked a few a blocks away to get dinner and retired for a good night’s sleep. It was a long day
9/27/15 Sunday Don got up around 7:00 am and went up to the top floor terrace for a Turkish buffet breakfast. There were hard-boiled eggs and cheese, lots of olives, breads, fruit, and cereal. Joan arrived around 9:00 am.
After talking to the hotel clerk to figure out our day we headed off on foot with our map and Don’s phone GPS for the Aya Sophia (Hagia Sophia is spelled both ways) and the Blue Mosque. Both have very interesting histories and architecture and artifacts. We spent a long time looking at the frescoes and mosaics, domed ceilings and stained glass windows and people taking selfies.
Walking to the Ayasofia Mosque with view of the turrets where the Iman calls the faithful to worship several times a day
Below is a view of one of the main bazaar areas which is a market place here in the tourist district.
Here is but another view of the Ayasofia Mosque with Don in the forground
Spice shop with all kinds of exotic spices and exotic customers.
Another view of Aya Sophia
Joan had to cover her head and wear a skirt to cover her legs to enter the Blue Mosque below.
Note the women are covered in skirts and scarves but the men wear shorts with no hat...? what's up with dat?
Inside the Blue Mosque below with mosaics, marble columns, stained glass windows and tile, once a Christian Church.
After exiting the Blue Mosque we were met by a young man who spoke good English and was very friendly. He told us he was Kurdish and from a big family so had to work in his uncle's carpet shop. He took us there to met the uncle. He insisted we have hot apple tea and cold water which was delightful. It was fun although we had to listen to Uncle Nuri (nicknamed John Travolta for his resemblance to JT) give us a sales pitch. We didn’t buy anything and walked back to the hotel for our nap. We shook hands and left on a friendly basis.
It is easy to get around in the tourist area as everything you need to know is well posted on signs such as below
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This is the family-owned hotel where we stayed within easy walking distance to everything we wanted to see (below)
View from the balcony of our room Below
Don & Joan having dinner at the Kock Restaurant
Having to nap due to the time change, we went out for a late dinner. We enjoyed dinner on the terrace of the restaurant. There was a warm breeze and as the sun went down all the lights of the city, and the boats on the Marmara Sea lit up. The Iman in the mosque next door called for worship at 8 pm. It seemed like a safe place with lots of Tourist Police and many European and Japanese tourists, however, this year there are warnings not to travel there. It is hard to tell nationalities as the young people all wear the same type clothing. At breakfast we met a couple from Australia and one from Canada.
Today after lingering over breakfast we headed off for our big adventure, the Topkapi Palace. It is a huge, sprawling place that would take days to see everything. We looked at much of it but opted out of the Treasury room because of the long line waiting to get in. We enjoyed sitting in the garden by the fountain. We found a great place to eat lunch and had chickpeas and rice, roasted stuffed eggplant, French bread, fallafals and humus. The narrow streets back to the hotel were crowded today with tour vans and busses.
Afterward we walked through the Bazaar near the blue mosque. We were accosted by many carpet salesmen asking, “how can I take your money”, all in fun. We were tired so back to the hotel for our 4 pm nap (still getting used to the time difference). Later we took a short walk to a nearby park area, and found a fast food place for an inexpensive but good dinner. Finally back in the comfort of our room to watch an old TV series and relax before an exciting day tomorrow when we board the Celebrity Constellation to start our cruise
This morning at breakfast we discovered a couple we’ve talked with are from So Cal, namely Tujunga, who have been traveling in Turkey for a month. They told us about some interesting places to see, but this is our last day to explore for we board our cruise ship tomorrow.
Another carpet salesman told us tomorrow there will be 3 cruise ships in town and to view the Cistern today before the crowds get here. The streets here are a lot like San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, made of cobblestones with uneven, narrow sidewalks and cars whizzing past. The dogs and cats seem to know to stay out of the streets. We really have to watch our step. It rained at lunch time but remained very warm (85 degrees) we ducked under an awning or trees for a few minutes before finding our lunch cafeteria.
We got an early start and borrowed two hotel umbrellas and were glad we did as it rained off and on all day. Our first stop was at the Archeology Museum complex where we saw many wonderful artifacts, statuary and large glazed brick panels of lions from Babylon dating from 604 B.C. After lunch we went through the Basilica Cistern, a giant underground water storage facility built in 532 to supply water to the Palace. The roof is supported by many ancient marble temple columns. It was dark with lighting showcasing the columns and reflecting in the water, all very erie looking with schools of orange and black carp.
Joan & Don stateroom aboard the Cruise Ship Celebrity Constellation
This was our first stop in the Greek Islands, Chania, Crete which was pretty little town
Fish Market in Chania. Don likes fish markets. Guess it's part of his past life...makes an interesting picture.
A main square with Christian Church in Katakolon, Olympia.
Waterfront at Hania, Crete, below
One of the many restaurants on Crete waterfront below
The refugees where leaving Syria by the thousands thus the welcome banner hanging on the brick wall below
Another shot of the boardwalk where we ate lunch and the harbor
Our cruise ship Celebrity Constellation docked below
Port city town near Olympia Below
This is the train that took us from the Port city to Katakolon, below
We needed to sit down so we ate lunch here downtown Katakolon below
Very narrow streets in Corfu below which we traversed to get the archeological museum.
Beautiful glass eyes for good luck and to keep away the "evil eye" hanging on a shop column in Corfu below
Since we love vegetables we had to take a picture of all the wonderful fresh vegetables below
One of the many sidewalk cafes located in the narrow streets of Corfu where we had a drink. We were able to eat lunch in every town, and enjoy the local wine and beer - fun.
Busy streets of Corfu with its shops and restaurants...we rode a public bus into the town center and found the Palace with its collection of Asian Art.
Young Beggar girl in Corfu
Very narrow Streets in Dubrovnik
Arrived Dubrovnik, Croatia Colorful Perrots with training lady Below
Market place in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik harbor below
Joan and I took a boat ride around the outside of the harbor it was beautiful (Dubrovnik)
Cave with kayakers exploring it
On Cruise Ship Departing Dubrovnik Croatia headed for Spit
Beautiful views of the Croatia from the Cruise Ship
Pretty flowers coming into Split
Cathedral and Bell Tower of St. Domnius, Split Below
The Greek Acropolis very crowed with cruise ship tourist
The Greek Acropolis
Greek Acropolis
Greek Acropolis
Greek Acropolis
Beautiful Street leaving the Acropolis
Dock at Santorini where shore boat drops you off from cruise ship Below
Best way to get to the town of Thira on Santourini guy on the ship said not to take the mules (too stinkey)
Here is how you get up to town by mule the ( stinkey way)
Posing for photo at a picturesque location (all the housed painted white in background)
This was our taxi cab driver (tour guide) that showed us around Santorini nice guy and quite informative
Joan
and I in Kusadasi Gateway to Ephesus, We did not go to Ephesus but stayed on the
beautiful seaport town and really had a great time
Don & Joan Back on Cruise Ship with bueatiful greek islands in back gorund
Kusadasi Turkey, at the port, on the boardwalk having a drink. It looks like Santa Barbara...this is our last stop tomorrow at sea next day istanbul to fly home.
Kusadasi Fish market
