Turkiye. A country I had on top of my list since it was known as Turkey, haha. Somebody buy those Turkiye websites! With nerves and anticipation it was time to put a check mark beside this country in my list and not just for a couple days...3 weeks or so.
Day 18-20. Istanbul, Turkiye. Left from from Burgas, Bulgaria on a highly recommended turkish bus lines. Took Nisikli bus for 5.5 hours (border stop about 1 hr) to arrive in the rain and to no directions on how to get from the Central Bus Station to CK Hotel in heart of touristic Istanbul. It was super exciting to be in Turkiye for the first time and I walked and walked and walked and walked taking in as much as possible in only 3 days! Probably walked 15 km in two hardcore days of touring.
 |
First and only stop on trip to Istanbul...only
10 minutes out of Burgas...weird and ugly.
And apparently they stopped here on the way
in to Burgas too! |
 |
beverage and snack service
but no bathroom... |
 |
| Cute tea package |
 |
| Signs the bus is curving hard |
 |
| First looks at Turkiye |
 |
| Europe feel, kinda |
 |
| Another satisfied customer |
 |
| Picturesque |
 |
| Single serving water |
 |
| 20 million people you say... |
 |
Football stadiums, big in Turkiye yet never
in the world cup (2002). |
 |
| Foreshadowing |
 |
| Rush hour |
 |
| Full metro |
 |
Little 1.5km walk to hotel in
the rain. |
 |
| CK Hotel! |
Side Story: When I finally was assisted by a civilian to help me buy a metro ticket, 3 trips for $4, I tapped the turnstile and it didn't work after the 3rd passage I bought I realised I was paying for the turnstile beside me...uff. Some times we rip ourselves off travelling. hahaha.
Little video of first Turkiye hotel. Had everything, but too loud to stay more nights and no hospitality as all communication via whatsapp. 7 out of 10. Bad shower.
 |
| Didn't expect that many steps |
 |
| Wow...almost a hover bike |
 |
| Rainy night |
Piping hot casserole still bubbling at Limon Cafe.
Tom Square Hotel a few steps up, literally around the corner and to the room on the top floor. Leave your shoes in the lobby, put on some slippers and climb to some amazing views in the loft penthouse spot. Hosted by the lovely Tomaruck owner.
 |
| views from the room |
 |
| Yep, I can see the Blue Mosque |
 |
| Another cat country |
 |
| Tight streets |
Out on the streets at 11am in October not expecting this level of tourism.
 |
| Monuments beside Blue Mosque |
 |
| Theodsuis Dikilitasi |
 |
| Blue Mosque |
 |
| Too packed to go in this day |
 |
| Hagia Sophia |
 |
| Again just packed to go in |
 |
Turns out the cruise ships
had landed...line ups |
 |
| Tasty pistachio bar, yum! |
 |
| Downhill to the Galata Bridge |
 |
| Gulhane Park |
 |
How many people sit there
on this guys lap. |
 |
| Column of the Goths |
 |
| Definitely saw more dogs laying in Istanbul |
 |
| Catch anything good? |
 |
| Panorama of the harbour |
Walking towards Galata Bridge and catching sight of all the cruise ships.
 |
A whole world of restaurants
and whatnot below the bridge |
 |
| A major transit spot |
 |
| Check out the auto fishing setup |
 |
| Need one of those for Playa |
 |
| Not a bad spot by the harbour |
 |
| Derya, pretty good |
 |
| Lots of stairs in Istanbul |
Galata Tower and view from restaurant "Roof Bar".
 |
That guy's ass would be in my
face if I was sitting in my spot |
 |
| Girls not eating their food and just on phones |
 |
| Incredible candy shop |
 |
| What a job |
 |
Looks like chaos...
|
 |
| That's up hill too! |
 |
| Galata Tower from below |
 |
| Wow... |
 |
| Sut Misir, roasted corn |
 |
| Crossing back to the main tourist zone |
 |
| Suleymaniye Mosque |
 |
| Lining up the birds |
Suleymaniye Mosque
Spice Bazar - All the colours and flavours.
 |
| No milk, no gluten...maybe? |
 |
| Into the Grand Bazar |
 |
| Everyday like this |
 |
| Walking back to the water |
 |
| Tea service |
 |
| Tomaruck recommending |
 |
Oops, a city service truck swung past on the
corner and caught the facade. Missed the
internet cables somehow. |
 |
| Blue Mosque lit up |
 |
| Incredible |
 |
| Height restricted phone booth |
 |
| two cats cuddling the benches |
Off to Istanbul Asia side via train under the cannel ($4) then back to Europe on the water ($1...makes no sense). Loved Asia side being more chill.
 |
| tight packing must weigh a ton |
 |
| under the sea |
 |
| Istanbul Asia |
Sea Point Cafe, blew the waiters mind with my Blackberry! If you are under 25 you may not even know of a blackberry, but 2023 had a movie about them so all good now. Kids will catch up on it.
 |
Definitely more authentic
on the Asia side. |
 |
Some countries must be so
tough for vegetarians |
 |
| Ayazma Mosque |
 |
| Just a shot of construction |
 |
| Ayazma Mosque |
 |
| Grade school |
 |
| Fire department |
 |
Those concrete blocks make it
tough to park on the sidewalk |
 |
| Looking back to Blue Mosque etc |
 |
| tourists |
 |
| Kiz Kulesi - Maiden Tower |
 |
| What's he doing? |
 |
| Sweet bus |
 |
| Back across the cannel |
 |
| Barbaros Square |
 |
| Dolmabahce Palace |
 |
| Tupras Stadyumu |
 |
| Quite the climb to Taksim |
 |
| Taksim Square |
Trolley backdown to Galata Tower. Big day walking...8 km or so.
 |
| Evil Eyes |
 |
| Fresh pomegranate juice |
Finally figured out the time of day to visit Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque. Couldn't leave without doing that right?
Dinner at Hos Seda as recommended. Not bad. Best part is I met a mixed Danish family that invited me to join them for a drink after I shared my Raki with them. They told me it was a highlight of their trip.
 |
| So pricy $20. |
 |
Loved this as the family wanted
to divide up the bill so waiter
took a seat like an accountant |
 |
| Thomas, Michael, Lucas, Sister |
 |
| My fish dinner |
No comments:
Post a Comment