Istanbul | FindPenguins

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Trip start
August 13, 2025
Istanbul Steve Catterall
Istanbul Day 1
August 13, 2025 in England ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Off I go, train to Manchester then easyJet to Istanbul, hopefully will arrive around 8pm Istanbul time
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 2
August 14, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 28 °C
A full days walking tour planned for today - around the hotel area is the blue mosque, hagia Sophia and grand bazaar, so that should kill the day.
Slightly disappointed with the blue mosque I don't think it comes anywhere near to the mosque in Amman, or the more modern Hassan mosque in Casablanca but it was ok. Now hagia Sophia that's a different kettle of fish, really old and lots of history, truly amazing place.
Had lunch in a nice little cafe and then went to the grand bazaar - well I should have known better. Packed out and very repetitive shops, all selling stuff that you can buy cheaper in the shops outside! Well I can say I've been but frankly I don't think I would have missed much if I hadn't 🤣Read more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
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Day 2 continued
August 14, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Well i visited a carpet shop to see how Turkish carpets are made, and visited the cistern underneath the shop, really interesting as it was set out to show the history of the hippodrome.
After I browsed the carpets saw a lovely hall carpet I really liked...until I saw the us $1300 price.
Did a bit of shopping on my way to the Bosphorus for a sunset trip on the river.Read more
Love this cat! [Lisa]
8/15/25Reply
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 3 east meets west
August 15, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 26 °C
Well breakfast over so I'm off to get a tram over the Bosphorus and head from europe into the Asian continent lol. Slight change of plans went as far as the besiktas stadium to pick up my passo card and ticket, slight delay in getting them so decided to go round the Dolmabahçe palace, very beautiful building inside, unfortunately couldn't take pics inside but it's a really oppulent place, gardens are nice too, took a couple of hours to go round inside let alone outside, after this finally got my footy ticket and back to hotel for a rest, and it's whirling dervishes show tonight.Read more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
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Day 3 continued
August 15, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
Start the evening off with whirling dervishes show took some finding down a little alley just off a market.
Wow, no photos of the show / service as it's very religious, very interesting though quite meditativeRead more
Oh wow that’s loud x [Lisa]
8/15/25Reply
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 4. Taksim square, and spice market
August 16, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today's plans, visit the spice market, head to cheap clothes area, then get an old funicular and head to taksim square.
Probably try for basilica cistern while I'm at it. Think I will leave Galata tower until Sunday afternoon on the way to the stadium

Managed tram and funicular to tasking square, then strolled along istiklal CT where all the big shops are, all with 70% sales but with t shirts for 160 TL (£2.89) who am I to argue..cheaper than Primark lol.
Surprised to see so many police with riot shield and also lots of plain clothes wandering around (unless Joe public have pistols in their trousers lol).
Anyhow 1pm and found an actual Irish bar - no surprise really- so stop for a while then back over the river and head to spice marketRead more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
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Day 4 continued
August 16, 2025 in Turkey
After a beer in the Irish bar I caught the metro down to the bridge and crossed underneath it where there are loads of restaurants , half way across I went up top and watched all the fisherman who all seemed to have bucket loads of fish, there must have been a lot because there were more seagulls than on Blackpool prom.
Went to the spice market, what a nightmare so many people and huddle and bustle, streets with everything you could name, one street had shop after shop of guns and camouflage gear, enough to equip and army 😵‍💫
Finally got back to hotel, watched pne win a match then went out for Chinese to celebrate 🥳Read more
Traveler Too sweet)
8/19/25Reply
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 5
Aug 17–18, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Today it's a lazy day and tonight it's footy, doesn't start till 9pm and I've to be up really early on Monday 🫣
Going to basillica cistern, then get a tram over river and head towards stadium tonight
Did the basillica, quite a feat of engineering, nice and calm inside but extremely humid.
Travel on to footy
Wow went into club shop...all 2 floors of stuff nowhere near as dear as UK prices, no beer outside somehow don't think there will be any inside, 3 hours before match and loads milling about, games to play, prizes to win ( I didn't 😕) and I've never seen so many police all geared up, shields batons, water cannons the works.
Just waiting for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to announce team.
Well never been searched so much to get in a ground, they've taken my power bank ( not allowed in) and the stuff I bought in club shop, I have to collect after match 🙏
Well it was a bit like north end on Saturday, lots of goal mouth activity, a penalty and a last minute goal for beksitas to win 2-1, should of been a cricket score for them but same problem lack of finishing.Read more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 6 Troy
Aug 18–19, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
It's an early start for this road trip but since I was young I was fascinated with the tales of Greeks and Trojans so I really don't know what to expect.
Arrived in eceabat and had a nice lunch the a short 15 minute ferry to canakkaleRead more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 7 more sightseeing
August 19, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Final day for proper mooching as I'm flying back at 8pm tomorrow so last real chance to have a good look at places / areas i've not been to
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Day 8 time to go home
August 20, 2025 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
My flights not until late on so my transfer to the airport isn't until 5pm so after a lazy morning it's looking like a quick stroll around the old hippodrome area
Final breakfast and once again the cats wander round to welcome the guests.
Went round archaeological museum and palace gardensRead more
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Istanbul Steve Catterall
Home today
August 21, 2025 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Slight delay to flight coming in so didn't land till midnight. Booked in to ibis budget as the cost of that and train today is way less than a taxi, meant I could get good night's sleep, shower and then train home.

So that's my travel finished with for this trip just counting down now....
Only 217 days until my next scheduled trip, although I might fit something in-between 😎😎Read more
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Trip end
August 21, 2025