Snow was the last thing we expected to get from Christmas! We left Didim to head up to Istanbul to meet Karma for a few days of sight-seeing before coming back to the boat for Christmas. Little did we know it would be FREEZING up north! I imagine that Istanbul is the type of city that is beautiful year round but can honestly say in all my years of travel I haven't been struck with such a magical site. It's amazing what a little sprinkling of white can do for a view.
The markets are like nothing I have experienced. No such thing as going for a casual stroll and bit of a nose around. There is constant competition to sell you something you don't want or need. A continual echo of "we've got the best cheese, all kinds of cheese, very good and very cheap" or "we've go the best meat and fish, all kinds, special price" - though Turkish is not my strong point you don't have to be a genius to figure it out. Full credit to the guys who make an effort to put a smile on your face as part of their tactics. My favourite calls were "how can I take your money" and "it's my turn to hassle you next". Still though, I could have tuned out and wondered aimlessly for hours.
The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are undoubtedly magnificent but the Basilica Cistern is an underground beauty that can't be missed. I couldn't believe the depth and grandeur of this place. Little do the tourists know what they are in fact walking on.
The sites in Sultanamet along could have you walking the streets for days. So much to see and do without having to go to far. It's safe to say we had out fill of Kofte and Kebabs and with a limited time picked the best spots to get amongst it.
After an awesome few days it was back to the boat for the typical copious amounts of eating and drinking that we are all accustomed to over the festive period. But not before we saw faces in trees and camels in convoy...
We hope 2012 has been all that you hoped for and that 2013 brings with it happiness of epic proportions. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
