More Istanbul

Roy left us at Topkapi palace.  It was quite an experience.  Fortunately we were there early in the day. After being there for an hour the place was jam packed and we were told that in peak season there would be many, many more tourists.   We saw the sultans robes. I wasn't that impressed, I expected more fancy stitching.  We wandered around during the gardens and areas where the sultans families relaxed, saw the circumcision room.  The was a lot to see.  After Topkapi palace we visited the Hagia  Sophia which means divine wisdom.  It was Constantinople's church, then the Ottomans' made it a mosque and covered the religious symbols. Many have benough uncovered. An awe inspiring place.

Next we went for lunch at the Pudding Shop.  How cool.  The Pudding Shop was a sort of gathering place for young travellers to meet in the  60's.  There was a notice board to tell someone that they were in Istanbul and they were a letter to connect in this way.  It became very famous and we had an expensive lunch there.

After lunch we saw the Hippodrome (where they raced chariots, one of only 3 left in the world) and the Blue Mosque. You must take your shoes off to enter the Mosque and ladies must cover their hair.   The Mosque is not blue on the outside, rather westerners called it that because all the interior walls are covered with blue tiles.    The Turkish people never refer to it as the Blue Mosque, they use the correct name for it.  During prayer time , no visitors are allowed.  Another life experience.

That was a lot for one day.  Everyone was tired but we went to the Grand Bazaar.  Tolga, our guide warned us no to to buy anything.  The prices are highly in there because of the tourists and no Turks shop there.  Then like naughty children we bought something.  It will grace our fridge when we get home!

Back to the hotel.  The room was still hot! After 3 hours of them telling us it wold be cold in 10 minutes and visits from 3 technicians we got moved to a new room.  The bonus was that we got a busIness suite.  Wow!  A huge round bath tub with a TV in the wall above it, separate shower, even 2 makeup mirrors.  A dressing room as big as Kim or David's old rooms with closets all around the walls.  Wall to wall windows in the bedroom/living room, capping make.  We were living high.  The next day Tolga gave us a little lesson on the Turkish culture.  When people smile and are pleasant they take it as a sign of weakness.   We should have put on a stern face and we would have had the new room 3 hours sooner.
I'm done for tonight. Over to Roy
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