Istanbul - SFO

This morning, I thought I was feeling better but, after packing up my suitcase, I was not.  I was scheduled to fly Economy home but with me being sick, we decided to upgrade me to Business Class.  I scheduled the Uber to the airport.  After getting checked in at the Airport we went to the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge.  I saw they had sleeping suites, but they were all full, so I slept in a chair till we had to make the very long walk to our gate.  My husband is such a trooper...he carried both of our Backpacks (that were both heavy) as I dragged myself next to him.  

Got on the plane and that Business Class never looked so inviting.  I just couldn't wait till we took off and that seat belt sign was off so I could lay down and go to sleep.  That's just what I did..slept the majority of the flight home.  Johnny watched 4 movies.  Killer of the flower Moon, Gravity, Ad Astra, Killing of Jesse James.  

The journey of this trip ends here. We hope you enjoyed reading our Blog as much as I enjoyed creating it.  

Not sure where our next travel adventure will take us but until then may you stay healthy and be safe.

Life is a Journey, not a destination.

Brenda and Johnny

Istanbul - Last Full day of our Trip

This is our last day with nothing planned.  We were going to do a Hop on Hop off bus.  BUT!!!  I was still too sick.  Going to make this short...I slept the whole day.  Couldn't eat and when I drank anything, it just came back up.  John didn't mind relaxing in the room for the day and taking care of me.  What an awesome husband.  

I figured I would wait till I got home to be seen by a doctor if I wasn't any better by then.  

In the evening, I had John go to the Restaurant at the Resort an get himself some dinner.  He TOTALLY deserved it.  I'm so glad he had a nice dinner with a beautiful view.  Just a bummer we couldn't have this dinner together on our last evening of our trip.  

Istanbul - A taste of Two Continents - Istanbul food tour

Today we experienced a variety of savory taste of the Turkish food chain.  We arrived at our meeting location a bit early so we indulged ourselves in the delicious Croissant drenched in Belgium Chocolate...it was delish.  Oink!!!

OK...now to start the tour. 

We started out food walking tour with a first stop at the Sekerci Cafe Erol were we sampled some Turkish Delights.  The business has been family run since 1807.   They have 5 branches in Istanbul and very much like a See's Candy establishment but with Turkish Delights.  

On our way to our second food stop we passed through the Spice Bazaar.  

Our second stop was at Cay Evi Restaurant.  We sampled dried beef, hummus, tomatoed Turkish spice spread.  Served with a Sesame Simit (Pretzel shaped bread), Olives and a Pudding Honey desert.  There was also a scramble egg dish with Turkish spices that we chose not to taste. Everything was very tasty.  

 Our Third stop was at Lezzet-i Sark Restaurant.  We were served Lamb soup and with me NOT liking lamb, I did eat it and it was very good.  Served with a plate of Arugula.  You take a bite of Arugula and then taste of Soup.  We also tasted other foods, but I have no pictures and can't remember what we ate.  Bummer.

Video of the soup being made for us

We then took a Ferry to the Asia side of Istanbul.  FYI...Istanbul is located in two continents (Europe & Asia).

View right off the Ferry

Of course being on the Asia side we have to visit the Fish Market.  Pee You!!!!!

Before our fourth stop, we stopped by Ozcan Tursu shop.  Just about everything in this shop is Pickled.  We sampled a pickled beet juice with vegetables.  It was OK.  I loved all the colorful pickled jars of Vegetables.  

Our final stop was at Ciya Sofrasi Restaurant.  The dishes we tasted were very delicious and a good choice for our last stop.  We tasted Artichoke stuffed with rice & seasoning, Stuffed Tomatoes, Grape Leaves stuff with Rice and a nice cream sauce.  They serve a variety plate that had 2 types of Hummus, Pickled Beets, Creamed Arugula and 2 type of salads, Bean Soup and we ended with Baklava.

This is the end of our excursions in Istanbul. 

This evening, I did a Turkish Bath at our resort (JW Marriott Bosphorus).  I loved the bath.  Afterward, I was given a Detox drink and put in a relaxation room where I stayed for about 20 minutes.  Feeling very tired (which I was told I would be), I headed back to the hotel room and went straight to bed.  After getting in bed, I started shaking profusely, Johnny was putting bath towels on me to keep me warm and then I started throwing up, then dry heaves.  I managed to stop shaking but continued the dry heaves for a while.  Finally, went to slept.  Thanks to my wonderful Husband for being by my side the whole time and trying to help me.  WOW!!!

 

Istanbul Lunch Cruise: Up the Bosporus Strait up to the Black Sea

Today we did a cruise up the Bosporus Strait to the Black Sea to see Istanbul's Minarets, Mansions, Mosques and Palaces from the water.  

We were provided with a lovely lunch

Top of the hill is the Yoros Castle.  This is a ruined castle dating back to Byzantine times that stand above confluence of the Bosphorus.  We sailed into a small Fishing Village and were supposed to have time to hike up to the Castle, but time did not permit.  So, we walked around the village and then headed back to the harbor where we started

City View of Istanbul

Anadoluhisari Fortress - A medieval Ottoman fortress built in 1393

Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge - the cross under from the Bosphorus Strait to the Black Sea.  This is the 3rd Bosphorus Bridge.  There are a total of 3 bridges that cross the Bosphorus Strait

 

Dolmabahce Mosque - This is where we started our boating excursion

 

Hippodrome - Blue Mosque - Topkapi Palace - Rug Shop - Grand Bazaar

This morning, we started our Istanbul experience with a Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul  

We meet up with our tour guide (Burham).  Our first stop was at the Hippodrome of Constantinople located in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul.  Hippodrome of Constantinople was center of the social life in the Byzantine empire.  This is also where relentless chariot races were held. 

L-R 

Obelisk of Theodosius - An Ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III

Walled Obelisk - A Roman monument in the form of an Obelisk

Serpentine Column - Turkey is part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally in Delphi and relocated to the Hippodrome by Constantine the Great in 324.

Blue Mosque aka by it's official name: Sultan Ahmed Mosque - The mosque was officially named the Blue Mosque for its 20k Iznik Tiles that adorn the interiors of the structure.  

There are four columns that support the massive dome.  Each column has 3 columns of the Iznik Tiles, which make up the 20k pieces.  

On the chandeliers, ostrich eggs are found that were meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders

The stain glass that you see here are the only original glass blown panes made on the island of Murano (Island renowned for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking.).  I missed why on this side of the mosque is like that.  

Topkapi Palace.  

The Palace was originally called the "New Palace" to distinguish the Old Palace in Beyazit Square.  Topkapi meaning "Cannon Gate".  The construction began in 1459, after the earthquake in 1509 and fire in 1665 it went under major renovations. The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings.  With its completion in the 1460's to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and was the main residence of its sultans.  173 Acres of property.  The palace is a museum now.  

Palace Layout

Imperial Council Hall

 Harem Portal - This is the main entrance into the Palace Harem.  The inscription above the door is Verse 53 from the Ahzap Surah of the Koran: "O believers, do not enter the houses of the Prophet without permission."

Black Eunuchs - The officers who served Palace ladies at the Harem.  This is their sentry post.

Various pictures of the Harem Portal

Imperial Treasury located in the Faith Pavilion

These are some of the precious royal heirlooms, objects from state ceremonies, consular gifts exemplifying the Ottoman Empire's.

   

Ok ladies... this Spoon Maker's Diamond is an 86-carat pear-shaped diamond.  It's set in silver and surrounded by a double row of 49 old-mine cut diamonds.  The diamond is considered the fourth largest of its kind in the work and it the most valuable exhibit in the museum's Imperial Treasury

Imperial Hall

I could write all day about this Museum but, I think it's time to move on with the day.  

After lunch, we visited the Vezirham handmade carpets and Kilims shop.  It was like a private presentation of carpets and kilims, we started our tour in a workshop where a craftsman unrolled a silk from a cocoon, producing silk strings and by using a foot pedal he spung it on a wooden bolt.  Next to him was a lady creating a silk masterpiece by using the stitch called a "Double Knot".  We were then given some history and taken into a big room where they laid out various types of carpets made of Silk, Wool, Cotton and mixed threads. They were doing a bit of a sales pitch, but I sat there mesmerized by these custom carpets, sipping my Turkish Coffee.  NO!!!  We did not buy a rug but one of the ladies in our group did.   

Some of the most beautiful Silk tapestry.  They are definitely out of our price range.  They sell from $4k up to $10k USD and some even more

Various types of Carpets

Our day ended at the Grand Bazaar.  This was NOTHING like we expected.  It was like a City Shopping Center.  You name...they have it or they will find it.