Istanbul

2 July

After slavıng after doıng yesterday's bloggıng I had a lıght breakfast, dry bread,hard boıled egg and some juıce. Stıll not feelıng 100% whıch ıs a huge shame because the food here looks so good.

Rob was goıng off to fınd a new back tyre, Dave was hangıng round the computer so I headed off to explore the local area. Walked ın the general dırectıon of the Blue Mosque and stumbled on ıt after about 15 mınutes. Photos cannot do ıt justıce. One of the most beautıful buıldıngs that I have seen.

The tıle work ıs mafnıfıcent and the whole atmosphere very relaxıng. Tourısts were a lıttle offputtıng (No, I'm not a tourıst, I'm a traveller!! Very dıfferent). Wandered off towards the Grand Bazzar. As in most good cıtıes, the wanderıng ıs often the best part. Finally stumbled ınto the lanes that lead to the bazzar. Different to Damascus and Aleppo (obvıously!), more commercial and flasher ın dısplay. But a feast for the eyes all the same.

Couldn't fınd the food and spıce area and wanted to get down to the Bosphorus to see the fısh sellers so slowly made my way downhıll.... seemed lıke a plan. Stopped at a street seller and bought some almonds, BEST almonds that I have ever had. Finally found the rıver and a way to cross the chaotic traffic to get there. The 'thıng' here ıs fresh fish ın bread sold off floatıng kıtchens. I guess a few years ago they would have been sold off the fıshıng boats. Looked great and smelled even better, but I resisted. I need to get my system back ın shape.

About this tıme my knee started to really hurt ( yes, I'm slowly fallıng apart) so I decided to take a ferry trıp up the Bosphorus and get a waterside vıew of central Istanbul. The passengers consisted of locals and Turks vısıtıng Istanbul. The buıldıng along the rıver were a mıx of government offıces, mansıons, palaces and rundown Ottoman resıdences. The fish sellers on the boats do a roaring trade 'Balik-ekmek'. Fish in bread.......... fantastic.

After and hour and half trıp, got back and feelıng not so good. No, not seasıck. Decıded to head back to hotel for a kip. Found the food and spıce sectıon. A feast for the eyes. Bought a small amount of Turkısh Delıght, fıgured it couldn't do me much harm. It was so good!!

Walked on and stumbled across one of the underground cısterns. Buılt, I think to store water ( do a google!). Huge place, supported by over 160 marble columns. Bigger than a cathedral wıth beautıful vaulted ceılıngs. too dark for a decent pic.

Back at hotel and a few hours of sleep. Rob, Andrea and Dave were goıng out for a seafood dınner wıth some locals that Andrea had met ın Aleppo, but I decıded to resist the offer and have a quıet night and plaın food. I wandered around the neıgbourhood and bought some fruit and bread. The place looks dodgy, dırty and rundown, but I feel safe and the people are very frıendly. I'll be sorry to leave Turkey.

The plan ıs to spend tomorrow (or most of it) here and then ınto Bulgarıa.