Arrival in Istanbul
 3. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
						Nancy dropped me at Kelowna airport, flight to Vancouver then from Vancouver to Frankfurt were on time. Dozed off on the red-eye, probably got 3 hours in. Connection to the Turkish flight to IstanbulWeiterlesen
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
 3. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
						So this activity came with the Istanbul e-Pass I bought for all the museum admissions and guided tours, so decided it would be a good thing to do the first night in town. A van was booked to pick meWeiterlesen
Galata Tower
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
						Leaving the hotel is a nice neighbourhood before arriving at the Galata Tower just a few blocks from my hotel on my way to the bridge below. This tower was built to replace the Great Tower (MegalosWeiterlesen
Galata Bridge
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
						Arriving down the hill across some very busy streets is the Galata Bridge across the Golden Horn, a natural inlet in the Bosphorus River where it meets the Sea of Marmara. The Golden Horn dividesWeiterlesen
Suleymaniye Mosque
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						Suleiman Mosque is the city’s largest mosque; it took 7 years to build and was completed in 1557. The mosque was part of a complex which includes a hospital, soup kitchen, hospice, Turkish bath,Weiterlesen
Spice Bazaar
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
						So, leaving the mosque, it was thankfully downhill through more narrow streets. One thing you see a lot is deliveries are made by men pulling carts. Istanbul is also afflicted with the scooterWeiterlesen
Snack at Bereket Doner
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
						Stopped for a doner in a hole in the wall next to the spice market entrance and paid 106TL for a wrap and a Coke Zero. Yum!
Rustem Pasa Mosque
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
						
								I had some trouble locating this mosque at first as it is just built right into the surrounding markets, but it was worth the extra few minutes as it is just filled with stunning tile work. 
TheWeiterlesen
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						This museum is housed in the former 16th century palace of Suleiman the Magnificent’s Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasha. The museum holds approximately 40,000 pieces spanning from the 7th to 19th century.Weiterlesen
Blue Mosque
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						Right across the park from the Arts Museum is the "Blue Mosque" The Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Sultanahmet Camii is nicknamed the Blue Mosque because of the beautiful blue tiles which adorn the interiorWeiterlesen
Istiklal Street
 4. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						Walked the main drag. Super crowded and super tired so did not make it up to Taksim Square, but I had seen it from the shuttle van last night on the way to the cruise. Decided to turn back, grabbing aWeiterlesen
Hagia Sophia
 5. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
						
								The Hagia Sophia is one of those 'bucket list' sights. I joined up with a booked tour guide and after a long line, we had a short tour of what was the largest church in the world for many years. 
TheWeiterlesen
Coffee break
 5. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
						On the way from the Hagia Sophia to the Archaeological Museum was a shop called Han Baclava. Didn't have a lunch break built in to the day plan, so stopped. This was the fanciest Turkish coffeeWeiterlesen
Topkapi Palace
 5. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
						Close to the Hagia Sophia is the Topkapi Palace. I was actually planning to go to the Archaeology Museum first and passed by the Topkapi Palace and noted a huge line to enter. When I got to theWeiterlesen
Istanbul Wrap-Up
 6. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						Left my hotel after 9 and got to the airport stupidly early for a 1325 flight but there was nothing else to do and I AM an airport geek! IST airport is impressive. Only opened 2019 and is Europe'sWeiterlesen
Cappadocia Arrival Neveshir Airport
 6. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
						
								Quick easy flight. Coming in to Neveshir you would be forgiven if you thought you were landing in Calgary. Farms, then grass rangeland and barren foothills with mountains in the distance.
Hotel had aWeiterlesen
Caravanserai Hotel
 6. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
						
								This is one the hotels carved into the rock face of the valley. Nice little place, just a few maintenance issues coming out of two years of the pandemic shutdown.
After the sunset view, just found aWeiterlesen
Goreme View
 6. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
						
								Just a short walk up to the Sunset View Point.
There is a direct path from town that must use private property so the enterprising owner set up a ticket booth to collect 5TL to use the trail!
Also aWeiterlesen
Sunrise
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
						
								Well -- sunrise "time" -- it is very grey.
Got out of bed about 6 and opened the curtains to see the day and there is a balloon hovering outside! They really come right down into the town. 
Went upWeiterlesen
Goreme Panorama
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
						Booked a tour for today. Chose a 'Green' tour that goes to the south. Will have about seven stops on this day. Pickup by one of the ubiquitous white 15 pax Mercedes vans and fought our way out of theWeiterlesen
Pigeon Valley
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
						Another stop at a viewpoint. The pigeons refer to the people keeping pigeons in the little bird houses carved in the rock. This was done nor only in this valley but all over the region. They collectedWeiterlesen
KEM Art Center
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
						The obligatory stop at a shop. This one was a jewelry place. Everything from gold to silver and diamonds, rubies, onyx and amethyst. But the unique offerings here are a semi precious stone calledWeiterlesen
Selime
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						Selime Cathedral is the largest monastery in the region. Also known as the Selime Monastery or Selime Castle, the cathedral is a mix of natural and human-made structures. There is evidence of variousWeiterlesen
Lunch at Belisirma Restaurant
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
						This is a lovely setting on the river. Lunch served to the group at the tables then tea served in little pavilions by the water. Beef casserole (adequate - what can you expect on a packaged tourWeiterlesen
Ihlara river and St. George Cathedral
 7. Oktober 2022 in Türkei ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
						From the restaurant we took a short walk up the river. Sometimes the green tour includes the full 4km walk but we were actually running late. Pleasant path led to a 150 step staircase to a necropolis.Weiterlesen






































































































































































Reisender1.5 km to get to customs?! Wow!
ReisenderWow - glad everything went smooth for the most part!!