Istanbul, Turkey, Day One

For today I booked cultural and food walking tour in Istanbul. Before our arrival at 1:00 PM, I contacted a tour operator about roads conditions. He told me that the cultural part involves steps and hills, but the food portion is flat. I am not interested enough about food to go on this tour. We canceled it and decided to go on our own.

Just to get out of the port, we had to walk over a mile. After we finally got out of the port , we turned right toward Dolmabahce Palace. Another mile and a half walk was pretty flat.

The palace's strategic location along the Bosphorus offers breathtaking views of the strait.

Dolmabahce Palace played a vital role in the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey. It was the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, passed away. It is a fusion of Ottoman and European architectural styles, as well as the pivotal role it played in Turkish history.

The gardens surrounding palace are beautiful, unfortunately the palace itself was not excess able for Boris. The elevator did not working, so they suggested to come next year.

I went to see inside the magnificent Cristal staircase and breathtaking Crystal Chandelier in the Ceremonial Hall. Pictures are not allowed. While I was inside, Boris was enjoying the gardens.

After visiting the Palace, we decided to take Bosphorus cruise. It was an enjoyable 90 min journey. After the cruise, we walked back to our ship and enjoyed a quiet dinner.Read more