Day 45 - Saturday 18th June

Ian here.

Its been weeks since the last blog.  And we have traveled from Istanbul to the UK and over to France in that time.

The main gates to the Domavachie Palace, can you imagine what the palace was like. So big I could not get it into one picture!

Our last few days in Istanbul were as hectic as the first. We managed to see more  of the "10 things to see in Istanbul before you die" list,  which included Suleiman Mosque, exquisite,  and the wonderful 19th century confection of the Domavatchie Palace and the glowing 12th Century frescoes and mosaics in the Kariye Muzesi, a very old byzantine church.  

Jane inspecting the goods in the Grand Bazaar.

As well, a few good meals, including meals from old Ottoman recipes.  We also walked through the Grand Bazaar 4,000 shops in a 700 year old "mall",  and the Spice Markets,  and whizzed by taxi to the old Roman City walls (5th C) that still largely stand, to the west of the Golden Horn.








 


We also managed a great meal at the Museum of Modern Art which has fabulous views of the Bosphorous from the restaurant deck, but a cruise liner was docked so all we saw was a ship - my are they BIG!

12th C mosaics on the ceiling of the church.

And so the week in Istanbul finished and we hopped on a plane to France via Budapest and London.  In Guildford UK, we had a birthday celebration meal for brother-in-law Nigel in the restaurant Simon worked in last year, (no-one there remembered him - entire staff had turned over!), a quick days shopping, and we managed to fit in a trip to the magnificent Wisley Gardens.

Bonsai tree in Wisley Gardens.

Back on a plane on 1st June to Bergerec airport in the south of France, pick up the hire car and drive to the house Colouma, the middle of nowhere in the Lot et Garone Department.



I will add some more picture later when we have a better connection.

Now over to Jane for the latest update. 

Lunch at the Museum of Modern Art + cruise liner!