Day 3, Sunday 11 May
So this is apparently quite a new hotel. For a new hotel it has *crap* noise insulation. We can hear the people next door very clearly. Disappointing. Also, the call to prayer at 4:45am is not blocked out at all. So we woke up then. I think I got back to sleep for a little while but we eventually got up a bit before 6am.
I also had thermo-regulation issues with the European-style doona, which is all or nothing affair (no sheet).
But otherwise slept reasonably well.
Breakfast was pretty good, and we headed out at about 8:30am.
Our first activity was a boat cruise along the Bosphorus. It was very cloudy so it wasn't the best for photos but at least it wasn't raining (much). Had some nice lemon tea on the way back.
Born - our boat for our cruise on the Bosphorus
View towards Suleymaniye Mosque
Galata Tower
View towards Galata Bridge
Photo by Mum
View towards Hagia Sophia
Norwegian Spirit
Dolmabahçe Mosque
Dolmabahçe Palace
ÇıraÄŸan Palace
MV Savarona - Turkey's presidential yacht
The Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Rumeli Fortress
Zeki Paşa Yalısı under Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Second stop was the Blue Mosque. It certainly is very pretty inside.
German Fountain (Alman ÇeÅŸmesi) near the Blue Mosque
Obelisk of Theodosius near the Blue Mosque
Interior of the Blue Mosque
Interior of the Blue Mosque
Interior of the Blue Mosque
Interior of the Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque
Then we had some lunch, some "Ottoman cuisine". There was a very tasty lentil soup, a beef hotpot on a bed of potatoes with yoghurt, and baklava. All delicious.
After lunch we went to the Basilica Cistern. This place was amazing. I'd loved to have lingered here longer to absorb it, but I was having enough trouble keeping up with the group as it was.
Our tour guide Selim Akin near the Basilica Cistern
Photo by Mum
In the Basilica Cistern
Roof of the Basilica Cistern
Medusa head in the Basilica Cistern
Then we went to Hagia Sophia which was pretty cool. Our guide called it the greatest church ever built (others are bigger/taller etc, but they were built at least a millennium after this one). I liked the mosaics and the fifteen *hundred* year old steps. There was a heap of scaffolding blocking half the place which was a bit annoying.
Minaret and buttresses at Hagia Sophia
Hall in Hagia Sophia
Interior of Hagia Sophia
Part of the Deësis mosaic
Mosaic of John Komnenos
Scaffolding in Hagia Sophia
Interior of Hagia Sophia
Roof of Hagia Sophia
Tympanum Mosaic
Hagia Sophia
Finally we headed up to Topkapi Palace. We were going to get an hour and a half here to wander, but Bruce cut it down to an hour, which was a little disappointing as we didn't really get to explore the place. We had a look at the treasury rooms which contained some pretty spectacular stuff (sadly couldn't take photos), the terraces overlooking the Bosphorus, some of the pavilions with their beautiful tile work, the costume room, the Imperial Council Hall and the clocks.
Hagia Irene near Topkapi Palace
The Gate of Salutation
Model of the Topkapi Palace complex
Tower of Justice
Brick roof of a Byzantine cistern
Courtyard in Topkapi Palace
View northeast along the Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace
Fountain in Topkapi Palace
Revan Kiosk
Baghdad Pavilion
View of Istanbul from Topkapi Palace
Mosaics in Baghdad Pavilion
Gardens in Topkapi Palace
Interior of Baghdad Pavilion
Photo by Mum
View towards the Blue Mosque from Topkapi Palace (with pigeon)
Then we bussed it back to the hotels.
Hagia Sophia from the coach
For the touring today we were given receivers and ear pieces so we could all hear the guide without having to gather closely around him. This was completely *brilliant*, as it meant I could wander around nearby to take photos, but also listen in on the commentary. Much less stressful/frustrating than our tours two years ago. But the walking pace was very slow for the most part. So slow in fact that my pedometer barely registered steps all day :( So although it only says 3252 today, I'm sure I did quite a lot more. Also, did a lot of standing around, so feet hurt quite a lot by the end of the day.
Had dinner at the hotel, then back to organise photos and write up blog entries.
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