Moving day, but it was only about 50 yards across the street. Not quite as palatial as our family room but more than adequate for our needs.
We spent the morning looking around the Topkapi Palace, former royal residence of the sultans. SPOT
Extensive grounds are a peaceful interlude to the hustle and bustle of Istanbul traffic, although the hoards of school children looking round attempted to compensate (we were told that Friday is school trip day in Turkey).
Anne was taken by the 86 carat diamond on display in the Treasury (the world’s fifth largest), and the Harem is especially beautifully, decorated with amazing tiling and mother-of-pearl inlaid woodwork.
We weren’t sure what to make of the collection in the Sacred Safekeeping Rooms, which houses various items that used to belong to several of the prophets as well as actual parts of them (including Moses’ staff, Joseph’s immaculately preserved century BC turban, John’s arm, David’s skull and Mohammed’s hair and tooth). Hummmm.
By the time we emerged it was too late to have time to visit the highly rated Istanbul Archaeological Museum nearby, so instead we took the tram over to the Beyoglu district across the Goldern Horn. This is meant to be the real heart of Istanbul, and as soon as we got off the underground funicular railway that carries you up the hill to Taksim Square we could feel the big city vibe, alive with people on a Friday evening after work. Walking down the pedestrianised Ístikal Caddesi we passed familiar brand named shops intermixed with the unfamiliar, found our Turkish road atlas and Anne bough a scarf to keep her warm in the evenings.
By the time we emerged it was too late to have time to visit the highly rated Istanbul Archaeological Museum nearby, so instead we took the tram over to the Beyoglu district across the Goldern Horn. This is meant to be the real heart of Istanbul, and as soon as we got off the underground funicular railway that carries you up the hill to Taksim Square we could feel the big city vibe, alive with people on a Friday evening after work. Walking down the pedestrianised Ístikal Caddesi we passed familiar brand named shops intermixed with the unfamiliar, found our Turkish road atlas and Anne bough a scarf to keep her warm in the evenings.
We crossing back over the Galata Bridge, lined with fisherman hoping to land a big one.
A text this morning from Mark and Briar announced their pending arrival in Istanbul, so we used the miracle of modern technology, Skype, to arrange to meet for some food. We ate at the Pudding Shop, former hippy hangout in the 60s, but now little different from the other tourist restaurants around Sultanahmet. The food was fine and the service friendly, and it was great to see the guys again (seems like ages since we split at Gallipoli, although it’s only been four days).
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