Istanbul

Stuff we have seen and done: I love this place!! I love that they drink tea no matter the weather and will offer it to you and apparently it’s good to drink warm tea in warm climate. Nerves in our mouths and in our upper digestive tract respond to the heat of the beverage, stimulating the brain to produce more sweat. And as it evaporates, the sweat effectively cools you down

• Basilica Cistern: History Bite: The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. Its cavernous depths make the visit quite haunting. The Medusa head is placed upside down to protect the visitors from turning into stone, and also she protects the structure. It’s great to see a bit of Roman history niched away in Instanbul.

• Hagia Sophia: History Bite: It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again.

• Blue Mosque: History Bite: An Ottomon-era historical imperial mosque. Constructed in the 15th century and is a monument of Ottomon architecture. NB: I expected the whole thing to be blue but it wasn’t and the blue is in the upper levels inside.

• Topkapi Palace Museum – a visit to this museum you will learn more about the Ottomon Sultans whose home this was for almost 4 centuries.
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum
• Grand Bazaar – one of the largest and oldest markets in the world. But I had to leave because the smoking inside was too much for me. Remember, they smoke everywhere in Turkey.

• Bosphorus Strait – there is a bridge that connects Europe & Asia. Walk or drive across and enjoy the view of two continents.
• Bosphorus Strait River Cruise – this was a good way to see everything in the day.

• Bosphorus Strait Night Cruise – it took us up and down the Bosphorus Strait but the smoking on board was terrible. So if like me, you too don’t like cigarette choking you up, remember smoking is every where in Turkey.

Places to Stay: 

• Fehmi Bay – loved staying here. It was a walk to everything and to great food.
• Ambassador Hotel – and both of these hotels came with breakfast and a view of both mosques.

Hot Tips & Tricks:

• I love the vendors selling their bread with nutella on the inside. It’s the turkish breakfast, semit.
• Everyone is trying to sell you something and they are pretty persistent at it, even to the point of following you so avoid eye contact and don’t engage if you aren’t interested in their service.