Arrival in Istanbul
3 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ☀️ 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 IstanbulOkumaya devam et
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
3 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 meOkumaya devam et
Galata Tower
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 (MegalosOkumaya devam et
Galata Bridge
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 dividesOkumaya devam et
Suleymaniye Mosque
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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,Okumaya devam et
Spice Bazaar
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 scooterOkumaya devam et
Snack at Bereket Doner
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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.
TheOkumaya devam et
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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.Okumaya devam et
Blue Mosque
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 interiorOkumaya devam et
Istiklal Street
4 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 aOkumaya devam et
Hagia Sophia
5 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ☀️ 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.
TheOkumaya devam et
Coffee break
5 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 coffeeOkumaya devam et
Topkapi Palace
5 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 theOkumaya devam et
Istanbul Wrap-Up
6 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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'sOkumaya devam et
Cappadocia Arrival Neveshir Airport
6 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 aOkumaya devam et
Caravanserai Hotel
6 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ☀️ 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 aOkumaya devam et
Goreme View
6 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ☀️ 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 aOkumaya devam et
Sunrise
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 upOkumaya devam et
Goreme Panorama
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ☁️ 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 theOkumaya devam et
Pigeon Valley
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 collectedOkumaya devam et
KEM Art Center
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 calledOkumaya devam et
Selime
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 variousOkumaya devam et
Lunch at Belisirma Restaurant
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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 tourOkumaya devam et
Ihlara river and St. George Cathedral
7 Ekim 2022, Türkiye ⋅ ⛅ 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.Okumaya devam et






































































































































































Gezgin1.5 km to get to customs?! Wow!
GezginWow - glad everything went smooth for the most part!!