Black Bird Hotel Istanbul

... of the ramparts they had nıce vıews of the walls that stretch for mıles. Also there were no maddenıng tourıst crowds to contend wıth, only had to be careful clımbıng and walkıng the walls was there were no handraıls and wıres were crısscrossıng everywere for the spotlıghts. If someone would to fallş nobody would know ı thınk. Though I do fınd ıt a pıty that they ...

... conveyed this to him. He laughed, and pointed at his watch, “tram is done.” Great.

I climbed onto the ferry to Besiktas grumpy and frustrated. I have been keeping a running tab for the last four months entitled, “money I shouldn’t have, in all rights, had to spend.” After my choice of accommodation in Jerusalem, I have amended the title to “money that I shouldn’t have, in all rights, chosen to ...

... in London. He really helped that a lot. He rinsed me then with water and had me roll over - then he very tactfully washed the front side - none of the "private areas" were washed, thank goodness! He then massaged my arms and hand as well as the front of my legs. He recognized that my hip muscles were very tight and attempted to get them to release with some gentle pulls on my legs - no luck. All he accomplished was that I ...

... tree. And as well, across the moat blockading even the approach the front of the gate, a Muslim cemetery. Ah, the ironies of history!

Within the tower complex I began reading my newest book, the Byzantines by Averil Cameron.

The remainder of the afternoon I walked the half of the wall circuit, to the Topkapi Gate (which is about as far from Topkapi Sarayi as one can get. The still remaining mass of the wall is most impressive. Where formerly ...

We made it down to Sultanamet with our friends Rachel and Peter. It was a journey of five modes of transportation. We took a Mini-bus, Autobus, metro, Finucular (a type of underground tram used for steep inclines) and a tramway in our journey. We got off the tram in front of the Topkapi Palace where up until the mid-19th century the Sultan lived. Grandiose would be a gross understatement. The whole place is full ...

... ncredıble place!!)Aga Sofya (an even older mosque wıth some of the columns whıch were taken from Ephasus - whıch ıs an ancıent cıty further down the west coast of Turkey that we vısıted yesterday (but I dıgress!)... One unforgetable experıence ın Istanbul was a vısıt to the hammam down the street from our hotel...ıt was recommended by our guıde from our day at the Blue Mosque... what a wonderful experıence...the gırls and I were ın ...

... any trouble. Tomorrow, we will spend the day cruising the Bosphorus and then training out at 8:30 P.M. for Greece. Beth, thanks for those Turkish CDs. I can even understand some things and wowed the ticket seller when I could ask for 14 tram tokens in Turkish! We are really enjoying Istanbul. It is a very beautiful, friendly, and cosmopolitan city. Love, Diann and Romy

... hours, we figured out how to use the tram/metro system, took it to the popular places, got out at Istanbul University and explored a bit. We visited the Grand Bazaar, where apparently we were Japanese and Korean, as everyone kept calling out in Japanese and Korean to get our attention. When we were visited by "hello's" we pretended we didn't speak English. when someone finally spoke Chinese to us, we pretended to be Japanese. Needless to say, we didn't buy anything ...

... it's a street or not. Cops are everywhere arguing with everyone and it really doesn't seem like anyone is caring. It's the funniest sight yet. We should have recorded it all on video. There were arms waving in the air, yelling, screaming, honking and tons of cussing. Pretty neat to watch, when you don't even know what the heck everyone is saying around you. (Ian) Even the guys working at our restaurant came out to watch the melee and they were ...

... have some new work clothes, right? Great deals though, so can't complain too much! Walked closer to home and past the Aya Sophia and Blue Mosque right to our grassy shade from yesterday. Bought some water from the shop and the guy there asked if he could join us on the grass. Didn't see the harm and it's good to chat to some locals so we said sure. Turns out he doesn't even work in that store, he is a carpet salesmen so doesn't need to be at work ...