Thursday 8 October

Back in Istanbul, we had a late start and were dropped off by our driver Umit for the last time (as Umit was then travelling back to Cappadocia) at the Topkapi Palace. It was the main residence for the Ottoman sultans and their wives and harem. The Palace (which is now a museum) is very large with four main courtyards, the first being an area which was used by the public originally and visitors needed to pass through the Gate of Salutation to enter the second courtyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From here, a long and slow queue led to the treasury where the very large Spoonmaker’s diamond which was sold for three spoons to a jeweller and ended in the sultan’s headpiece can be viewed. A good view of the Bosphorus is from the open area off the treasury room. The large numbers of people in the Palace meant seeing each area in the Palace was slow but worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending the morning in the Palace, we spent the afternoon at the Grand Bazaar. We caught the tram which is always jam-packed to the Bazaar filled with many shops selling all sorts of goods including jewellery, beautiful plates, scarves galore, amazing turkish delight and so on. There were so many people there we felt like we were back in India!! The ceiling and walls were all tiled and it is very beautiful when you look up. Back to the shops! We negotiated the price of some cushion covers down to 50% of the original price, had some pomegranite juice which is very delicious and then trammed it back to the hotel. Opposite the hotel, some gift shops sell similar wares and we found the cushion covers for a cheaper price! Exactly the same and cheaper!

Grand Bazaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night, we wandered around the streets near the hotel which lies in the old city and is close to restaurants as well as the Spice market and other landmarks. At night, the waiters stand outside their restaurants to entice customers in to have a meal. So after being pursued by waiters and reading menus, we settled on a restaurant in the street behind the hotel. A young waiter (and all of the waiters are male) told us his name but then said we could call him George after George Clooney – and he did look like the famous George! We had beer, red wine and delicious lamb kebab and of course salad.