Allstar Kervansaray Hotel Istanbul

... yesterday. So I knew ıt was around 530. I took a walk outsıde, wanderıng around the Aya Sofia and trıed to get to the shore. Unexpectedly I saw my hostel after numerous turns. I went the other way, and fınally got to the shore. It was stıll dark, wıth all the star above. Istanbul does not seem to have too much lıght. I walked all the way toward the Topeka palace, thru the garden and back ...

... intelligence testing - just had to throw that in there if any of my colleagues are reading) and two administrators from the University of Texas at San Antonio. It's a pretty intellectual bunch. <br><br><br><br>There are only 8 of us, including our guide, who are in the 30-40 range. Everyone else is absolutely in their 50s and one couple is traveling with their teenage daughter. Two couples, the women of which are sisters, are from Ottowa. There are two ...

... quietly hoped that he wouldn't be sending a couple of Russian drunks in with us. There was a knock at the door and an Australian couple appeared. We should have guessed. These Aussies really are everywhere. The strange thing was the guy, Michael, had met Ritchie earlier in the day randomly and struck up conversation whilst buying some water. Weird. <br><br><br>In a very unusual practise, rather than check passports as we boarded, at ...

... amusing that all the focus in hotels in Israel is on conserving water; so pressure is low and all that. Here, they seem to be much more concerned about electricity to the point that it cuts off when you take your key out of this little slot by the door to leave. I had a nice dinner at a little place just up the street that was recommended in Lonely Planet. Surprisingly, I was the only non-local in the place. I'm glad there are lots of nice, easy ...

... visit before I went to the station, an English pub some distance away. I stopped at the Blue Mosque to check I was heading in the right direction and found myself being offered cake by a group of women in veils of various colours (pink, orange and green, quite vivid). It was good cake and I soon found myself in a discussion about Islamic history with a small group of them, all of whom spoke English better than I expected them too. "We are ...

... overal liggen wel tapijten, stoelen gebruiken we hier niet, we zitten altijd op de grond, ook om te eten, dan hebben we een laag tafeltje, dat weer wordt opgeborgen na onze maaltijd. Straks houden we tavla- wedstrijd (backgammon), volgens Erol is er echter een verschil tussen meisjes-tavla, en jongens tavla, maar daar wil ik niets van weten, dus is het time to kick some asses!

... We went to the Bistro on board and had a coffee and a snack since we hadn't had any lunch. Entertainment that evening was a nonstop 70 minute musical tour of 29 different countries complete with slides by a pianist, with the accompaniment of a drummer and bass player. It was well done and he deserved the standing ovation we gave him. Being Turkish, he gave a narration when we cruised through the Dardanelles, which I will highlight when I do tomorrow's sea day.

... from all over Europe and Asia.  On the roof, they served breakfast overlooking the water with a view of the Blue Mosque, where gulls congregated in the lights at night, perhaps for fun. Near the Galata Bridge, fishermen brought their catch to make fresh fish sandwiches for everyone, some cooking the meal from a small boat.  Dolphins also fished, under the bridge.  On many days, I ate a sandwich for lunch.  Just up the trolley street, was a good fasulye ...

... We chose the historical and famous Chamberlitas Hammami. Upon entering there is an open room with three levels made all of wood. After choosing from the bath's menu (I signed up for the luxury treatment) I was directed to the first level where my "locker" was located and Michelle went to the women's section. The locker was a small room with a bed where I changed into the traditional pestimal, a thin towel worn around the ...

Yesterday I channeled Earth Kitt as I crossed the Bosphorus on a ferry. "In Turkey there is a little village..." I was headed to Uskudar on the Asian side so that I could capture some photos. I then grabbed another ferry to Eminonu which is near the Galata bridge. For about a buck you can take the ferry across - your reward for being cheap is fabulous views of Topkapi and Dolmabace palaces, the Galata Tower, several mosques including Sultan ...