Family - Istanbul, day 3

Trip Start Mar 12, 2008
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Trip End Mar 31, 2008


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Saturday, March 15, 2008

Yet another great day in the city!! We got a slightly later start than expected (we got to sleep a little later than expected the night before), but that didn't slow us down. We were out the hotel after another great breakfast, and headed by foot down to the Topkapi Palace. The sun was shining, a little breezy, but really quite pleasant. We walked round the back of the Aya Sophia, and in through the main gate of the Palace. The whole area was lovely, full of people, and quite spring-like. The palace grounds added to that feeling: green grass and beautiful flower beds. After a quick cup of hot black tea, we moved through the gates and into the grounds. Starting at the outer quartyard, we moved through the throne room and down to the area with views over the Bosphorus. We also saw the area of the viziers rooms (secretly viewed by the Sultan). I have to admit, I had been here about 17 years before, but it seemed quite hazy when I tried to remeber the exact things I had seen. It truley gave the sense of the grandeur of the past, and needless to say, Asher, Garcey and Hayley had a great time. We were both awed by the size and the oppulence that existed then, and seems still to be present. After about an hour, we left by a side gate, passed through the grounds of the Archeological Museum, and spent some time in an adjoining park hanging out and relaxing.
And then for something quite different: a quick 15 minute walk and we were on the teeming outskirts of the spice market at a stand-up doner kebab stand for lunch. This was our first experience of this very local cuisine, and it was delicious. Saturday afternoons are clearly very busy days, and the spice market was packed. We wondered about for another hour or so, sampling various delicacies like Turkish Delight and pistachio nuts. The aromas, and the visual impact was just remarkable, and again, the people were incredibly friendly. There was certainly no excessive pressure to buy, although we had fairly been warned to expect that. Then a relaxed walk back to the Blue Mosque. Gracey and Hayley both scored again: stopping at a shsop to buy a postcard, they were both presented with little "evil eye" pins - the second time for Gracey.
The children have done very well. They have taken completely to the etiquette and "respect" issues that are so important in the culture. In all honesty, patty had prepared them well for this aspect, and they have taken it quite to heart. We were both proud when Asher and Gracey stood up on a train to give their seats to an older man who had come aboard the tram. This is one of the reasons why we travel and work so hard to show them the world.
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