We arrived in Istanbul after a night in the Tel Aviv airport followed by an early m
orning flight. Backpacks on, we left the airport, navigated the tram - Istanbul's great public transportation system - and headed out in search of a place to stay. After walking around for about two hours we stumbled upon Emirhan Inn Apartments. It appeared to be out of our budget, but getting desperate we asked about prices and availability anyhow and low and behold we found a gem! We have since been staying in a one bedroom apartment for 80 liras a night (a little over $50). We have a little kitchen, a clean, private bathroom and a washing machine!!! Needless to say we are living in luxury, and loving it! Plus it came with three adorable little kittens who we've started feeding (probably much to the owners chagrin). Our kittens aren't exactly tame and cuddly, but cute all the same! When they hear us get home, they start meowing at our back door for food. They come in, eat, and when feeling brave explore a little. If we move towards them too quickly or try to pet them they dart off like a bat out of hell.
Our first da
It wasn’t all just comfy beds, clean laundry, and kittens galore though. We did manage to get out and explore the magnificence of the city around us. We first headed up to the Hippodrome, an open-air area
with a few old columns (one was even from ancient Egypt!) to see, but otherwise appeared to be an area for pedestrians to sit and enjoy the free Wi-Fi. Next we took off our shoes, I covered my arms, legs, head, etc. and headed into the Blue Mosque, a beautiful, old mosque in the heart of the city that is still functioning. It gets its name from all the blue tiles decorating the interior. Just opposite the Blue Mosque is the Hagia Sophia, which has served as both a mosque and a church through the years and the change of empires.
The rest of the week is kind of a blur of sleeping in, cooking dinner and walking all over th
e complete European side of Istanbul. We took a cruise on the Bosphorus which offered a gorgeous view of the city. Istanbul is peppered with mosques and the many minarets give it a unique skyline, beautiful at sunset. We explored the hubbub of the Grand Bazaar with the many booths of vendors selling what they claim is gold, diamonds, and silk pashminas, though I'm still unsure what is real or not!
The rest of the week is kind of a blur of sleeping in, cooking dinner and walking all over th
On Saturday, we had our own personal tour guides: Muharram and Mehmet. Muharram, a Turkish native, went to grad school
We have both really loved Istanbul. The weather has been perfect, a taste of fall with the cool morn
We took an overnight bus to Pammulkale, a cute little town famous for its hot springs, bizarre white landscape, and Roman ruins. Tomorrow, we will head to Ephesus and then the Mediterranean coast. But our comfort in leaving Istanbul was that we know we'd have to goback. We fly out of Istanbul on October 19th for India!
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