What a magical and exotic looking city from our vantage point on our deck and it looks so different to the Greek Ports of call to-date.
As we sail into a huge harbour, Istanbul is on the coast of the Marmara Sea in the Basphorus Straight that comes from the Black Sea so you have Europe on your left and Asia on your right. It is the only city in the world that spans two continents.
Off to our left in Europe is the Blue Mosque followed by the Topkapi Palace and both places we will be doing tours of over the next two days. They both sit high on the skyline and are in the old city.
Turkey has some 77 million and 16 million live in the city of Istanbul, it is vast and stretches as far as the eye can see in both directions as we sail in.
Our tours will also take us to the Spice Markets today and tomorrow The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace the home of the sultans from the past. Lastly the Grand Bazaar one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, 4000 shops,17 entrances gates and 56 streets ... I can get lost in Grace Brothers so if you don't get any more blogs after this come on over and find me!!!
What colour shirt are you wearing so we can pick you out in a crowd.
ReplyDeleteThe grand bazaar is truly amazing and you have to see it to even get an idea as to how enormous the complex is. We were petrified that we were going to get lost and had to keep thr main entrance in sight at all times.