Byotell Istanbul

... that need be followed. Dress is strict, yet not as severe as I imagined. Thankfully all the tourists, and there were many of them, showed due respect and it was a quiet and reverent place to be inside. Beautiful artwork and colours in the tiles, predominantly blue, hence the name, were extremely well preserved and really give the impression that this place probably hasn't changed in the several hundred years since it was constructed.<br><br>The next port of call ...

... to go into town and see the famous houses. In fact, our B &amp; B was way outside town. All I wanted to do was get to work on the blog (the very blog I am over a week behind on right now!), but alas there was no internet.<br><br>But Jeremy wasn't kidding, the owners were incredibly sweet and nice. They didn't speak hardly a word of English but they did everything with a sweet smile on their face and gave us a tour of their home. The daughter and the father were the only two in at ...

... in the morning, sitting on the rooftop terrace, writing about our adventures and watching the sun come up over Istanbul. This day we had breakfast as usual on the terrace at the hotel. Today, to give us a bit of variety, they give us something like quesadillas, made with thin tortilla-like bread and a local cheese. Not a bad imitation-we just lack the wonderful Oaxaca salsa. Yesterday we passed an Istanbul version of El Torito ...

... when Obamania arrives! After Bianca had to head back down and up the big hill because she left her wallet at the Turkuaz, we headed back to the Grand Bazaar for a bit more haggle-friendly shopping. Bianca and I picked up a few more little trinkets before heading back over to Beyoglu to look for an old map shop we read about in Lonely Planet. The last few trips we have gone on I've started to purchase old maps and so for my birthday this year, Bianca was nice enough to offer ...

... br><br>Our experience with the food got better the more we ate. First we have a kebab from a mom and pop store. A bit skimpy but since it was under a dollar, it was okay. We stroll on for a few more hours and a decide to have our second dinner at a cafeteria style place with rows of steaming dishes. We call it a "point and shoot". There are about 15 different types of meat stews, veggies in sauces, rice and pasta salads. We try the stuffed bell peppers ...

... right?). So, I'm baffled: not only are French fries actually French, more and more they appear to be an international cuisine! I've been so out of the loop. Casey and I spent the other day in Taksim, a trendy shopping district in the city. He was on the hunt for pants (he left a pair on a clothesline somewhere in Southern Turkey) and I decided that I really missed denim, so I was looking for a cheap pair of jeans. Along the ...

... You deal almost entirely with men. They do all the jobs. And generally what you see of their attitude towards women is at times unsettling. In the end it gets about 6.5 out of 10. Funny thing is I met a guy who was more glowing about it than me and asked him to score it and he gave it the same score. Really, it has its wonderful bits and it's well worth a visit. I'm glad I went and I think you should go too, but once was enough for me.

... from there we catch a tram to about three blocks from our hotel. Our hotel was in a great location in an area of town called Sultanahmet which is close to all the major tourist spots in Istanbul....The Blue Mosque, Ayasofya, Topkapi Palace, Basicilica Systern and the Hippodrome. We check in, get cleaned up and start walking around the Sultanahmet section of town. It's pretty impressive to walk ...

... and cakes. Once we had eaten the lights went out and we continued through the night to Istanbul. The only slight annoyance was the occasional pot hole or crater which the coach drove through. This would instantly shock one awake. Then, to our surprise, the coach boarded a ferry and we got a half hour trip on the Sea of Marmara after which breakfast was served - bread , honey and peach juice. We arrived at the Varan depot at about 6.00 on a cold dreary Friday ...

... Included within the Palace is the Harem, the former residence of the sultan's wives, concubines and children, who were guarded by black slave eunuchs (meaning they were castrated). Also included in the entrance fee is the Treasury, which contains many of the finest and extravagant pieces of craftsmanship in the world as well as religious paraphernalia, such as bones of John the Baptist and a hair, footprint and letter from the Prophet Mohammed. Late afternoon I ...