This is Ian.
Lord, these holidays are hard work! I need a holiday from this holiday. We are out there doing stuff every day. So, since we last Blogged we have done a second days touring in Cappadocia and flown into Istanbul.
In Cappadocia we went to one of perhaps 100 underground cities where the christians of the 10th century hid in as the various Persians, Muslims and other armies of central Asia passed through and fought over for a few centuries, before Selcuks and then the Otterman Turks were declared the winners.
Some of the underground cave systems went down 100m and housed 5,000 people for weeks at a time.
Also walked along a beautiful valley floor for miles in the rain, but then had a refreshing meal in the river!
And so to Istanbul. We are staying in an apartment in the residential area rather than the old City so we catch the trams in to see the sight each day. And what sights! Photos don't to justice to the Hagia Sophia (built 567AD) or the Blue Mosque.
Sights seen so far:
- Topkapi Palace, including the Harem.
- The Istanbul Archeology Museum
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- The Blue Mosque
And now the amazing..........
- Hagia Sophia - built as a church in 567AD!
- Fish sandwich from stall at the Galata bridge
- The Galata Tower
- Cruise up the Bosporus to the Black Sea.
We are really loving Istanbul. It is a very liveable city, lots of medium density all over the place (15m people live here) so lots of shops and cafes all over the place, and the Grand Bazaar is mad, over 4,000 shops in a 10 minutes walk end to end.
Only three more days here then on to France - nearly one month gone already - and I have only managed to read two books so far!
Picture to right shows Jane with a delightful Scot she met in the toilet on the Bosphorus cruise, who grew up in the same small village as her in Scotland, and despite being 18 years older, they still had many memories in common! Amazing. Jane want to look this good at 78! PS. the Black Sea is behind them.
Lord, these holidays are hard work! I need a holiday from this holiday. We are out there doing stuff every day. So, since we last Blogged we have done a second days touring in Cappadocia and flown into Istanbul.
 |
| Our "cave" hotel room in Urgup. Jane noted the bars on the window made it more like a dungeon |
In Cappadocia we went to one of perhaps 100 underground cities where the christians of the 10th century hid in as the various Persians, Muslims and other armies of central Asia passed through and fought over for a few centuries, before Selcuks and then the Otterman Turks were declared the winners.
 |
| In a cave town 50m underground - we could stand in this bit. |
Some of the underground cave systems went down 100m and housed 5,000 people for weeks at a time.
Also walked along a beautiful valley floor for miles in the rain, but then had a refreshing meal in the river!
 |
| Jane talking to a duck during the valley walk. |
 |
| Lunch on the river - we had trout! |
And so to Istanbul. We are staying in an apartment in the residential area rather than the old City so we catch the trams in to see the sight each day. And what sights! Photos don't to justice to the Hagia Sophia (built 567AD) or the Blue Mosque.
Sights seen so far:
- Topkapi Palace, including the Harem.
 |
| Iznik tiles (15th Century) on walls of the Hare |
- The Istanbul Archeology Museum
 |
| The Alexander sarcophagus 5thC BC - beautiful detailed carving - in the marble, not the Russian poseur! |
-
- The Blue Mosque
 |
| The tiled ceiling to the Blue Mosque - exquisite! |
And now the amazing..........
- Hagia Sophia - built as a church in 567AD!
 |
| Hagia Sophia - Huge and in surprisingly good nick for a building 1,500 years old |
- Fish sandwich from stall at the Galata bridge
- The Galata Tower
- Cruise up the Bosporus to the Black Sea.
We are really loving Istanbul. It is a very liveable city, lots of medium density all over the place (15m people live here) so lots of shops and cafes all over the place, and the Grand Bazaar is mad, over 4,000 shops in a 10 minutes walk end to end.
 |
| The Black Sea behind two expatriate Scots........ |
Only three more days here then on to France - nearly one month gone already - and I have only managed to read two books so far!
Picture to right shows Jane with a delightful Scot she met in the toilet on the Bosphorus cruise, who grew up in the same small village as her in Scotland, and despite being 18 years older, they still had many memories in common! Amazing. Jane want to look this good at 78! PS. the Black Sea is behind them.
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