Allstar Accura Hotel Istanbul

... was built in 1966 -- 500 years later! The high school is about 25 meters from our door, which is one of the reasons we love this place -- being so close to all this history.

The high school is also responsible for another of the neighborhood's most famous items: the Galatasaray Football Club. The football team was started by members of the high school in 1905, and has gone on to become a contender in the European leagues, as well as one ...

... culture -- that I was now in the Middle East. But then I found Kate and a short walk over a bridge and a hike up past the Galata Tower and suddenly, unexpectedly, we were in winding streets lined with trendy cafes. I heard the Arctic Monkey’s coming from one café, and another advertised half-priced mohitos. Here, then, was Europe.

I woke up on my second day at the early break of dawn to the sound of the calls to prayer ...

... that i'm now in is in the Asian side (didn't know half of turkey is in europe & the other half is in asia, strange) So Europe is now done! completely in the camping thing now, well used to not showering for days & wearing the same clothes for a week! I love it! Make up lasted 2 days, am now a make free girl!
In Turkey for 2 weeks then heading towards Georgia (for my birthday)
I will do my utmost to try & keep this blog updated! Miss you all loads!x

... girl being sick of sexual harassment in Turkey. 1.10.2008: Istanbul I started with Topkapi, a huge sultans' residential palace [35 YTL icl. harem]. For this and Aya Sofia there is a piece of advice: get there at opening time so as not to drown in tourists. The story goes like this: "Once upon a time the sultan said 'I want something really small and simple'" ...ok, not really;). Altogether it has four courts and it's easy to spend a half a day there. It's a huge complex of ...

... les fantastiques closques de Sultanahmed, la cisterna-oracle que ha canviat l aigua pels turistes, ı un poblet de pescadors que ha fet el mateix, en remuntar el Bosfor, la travessa a Asıa al pondre s del sol, girar un tomb horari a la torre de Galata, pujar pel Portal de l Angel fins a Taksim, prendre un te a l Istambul modern, explorar unes quantes mesquites, el mercat del peix, el bazar de les especıes... i acabar regatejant amb el recepcionista de l hotel.

... to the Bazaar. We shopped for a while and then went to the Underground Cisterns ---very cool (in both ways). We had a mixed grill and salad at a restaurant across the street from the Blue Mosque and then saw the Sound and Light Show at the mosque. Beautiful. We even saw whirling dervishes! Today, we went to the Topkapı Palace ---and yes, Beth, I saw Mohammed's ...

... to refer to him as Mr. Pimp Daddy. The Palace consisted of an outer wall, and then the inner-wall where the Sultan's residence was situated. The outer wall protected the grounds from the general masses, and the inner wall separated the private quarters from the rest of the grounds. The place was pretty cool. The best part, not to say the crown jewels, the various gifts and stolen items from the various conquests of the Ottoman Empire wasn't cool, was the HAREM. Yes ...

... houses the cıtys watersupply. It ıs buılt rıght under the streets near the Blue Mosque and the ceılıng ıs suspended by gıant decorated columns. A modern touch of soft colored lıghtıng has been added so that one can enjoy the beauty that would not be avaılable by ancıent candle lıght. After tourıng around the cıstern, but before goıng back up to the outsıde world we each had a Turkısh coffee whıle soakıng ın the vıew. We have really become addıcted to these tıny tıny ...

... out what we wanted if there was room left before even looking at the menus! Had lemonade (no alcohol served here) and a Turkish pizza (like a funny pita) with spinach, eggs and feta. Was so full, I decided no desert but the smart little waiter had seen us pointing earlier and just brought it all out before we even had a chance to say no. Best desert ever though, chocolate and espresso mouse cake, mmm. Sat July 7 Was in no hurry this morning so ...