Istanbul, Ferry On The Bosporus

Wednesday March 16

Krys and Brian flew home this morning. Now we are three!

Graham came up and woke me up at 9:30! I had a really good night's sleep. The last couple of nights I've had stuff on my mind and worry about parts of my trip. So a great sleep was warranted.

I had a quick breakfast and then wandered up to the Intrepid offices here by the Blue Mosque to check out which trips they offer for India. Unfortunately I've missed a couple of trips I'd like to take because they are full, but I was afraid to pre-book and pay for the trip and the flight until I knew for sure I could get a visa. In retrospect... but who knew! While I was there they were training a group of new guides for their Turkey trips. They asked me to talk to them about why I would pick to travel on an Intrepid or GAP trip. It was great to be able to talk to them and tell them a tourists perspective.

Then, I spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out and sort out what I am going to do after Egypt. I want to go to India next, but I have an issue with my passport because I am running out of pages. So, I have to apply for a new one, but do I do that in Cairo, but no wait then my new Indian visa will be in my old cancelled passport. Okay then apply in India, but wait I arrive there on a Saturday, the trip ends on a Saturday and I want to leave for Nepal the next day which is Sunday. Do you think the embassy will be open any of those days? Yikes. So, I think I will fly from Cairo on the 3rd or 4th of April so I have five days in Delhi before the trip starts in order to get the passport sorted out. Get all that, no worries, I'll figure it out.

Graham and Tess came back (from the Archeological Museum) around noon and we headed down to the harbour to have a fish sandwich. Then we boarded a ferry/tour boat for a one and half hour tour of the Bosphorus heading north towards the Black Sea. The day was lovely and warm with lots of sun. The ride was pleasant and we watched as mosques, palaces, forts, high rises, large homes and other buildings went by. The picture of the bridge is the land link between Europe and Asia. This is the only city in the world that straddles two continents. There are lots of boats on all the waterways here, from ferries, to oceanliners, from watertaxis to cruise ships. It's amazing to watch.

When we got back we wandered through the spice market so they could buy some Turkish Delight for family and then we went to a cafe for a orange and pomegranite drink and I had a rice pudding, which is way better than the ones back home. It's more like a baked custard with a little rice in it, very good.

Then we went for a walk through Gulhane Park which is part of the old Topkapi Palace grounds. We sat on a bench in the sun and watched the blue? herons making nests high above our heads.

This evening we went out for our last dinner, as they leave for Sweden in the morning. We went to a little (cheaper) restaurant by the Pudding Shop. It's sad to say goodbye to people that you meet on these trips. Tonight was no exception. I have enjoyed Graham and Tess's company both on the trip and here in Istanbul. They were good guides in and around this city. They are English pharmacists who are moving to Perth Australia, lucky them!

Now I am one!