Istanbul & Home

A leisurely start to the day today. It would seem the hotel staff were feeling the same way. We arrived for breakfast on the roof terrace shortly after 8am when it was supposed to start. By 8:15 most of the food was out on the serving table, but we weren’t in any rush, so no worries. There were threatening clouds but we were pretty confident it wouldn’t rain on us.

After checking out we headed for the Basilica Cistern which is a large underground cavern for water storage in Roman times. It has 336 marble columns, each 9m high, impressive vaulted ceilings, two carvings of Medusa’s head and even some fish swimming in the remaining water.

After a break from walking, we headed for the Museum of Islamic and Turkish Arts?? Parts of it were really interesting, especially seeing some very impressive carpets and illuminated Koran manuscripts. We also saw Deniz our tour guide as she was taking another group (more Aussie’s I think) around Istanbul.

One last Turkish coffee and a doner kebab later, we headed back to the hotel to collect our bags. It was a long haul up the hill again with our packs to the tram, and we were sweaty and tired. We stopped off at the Bern Otel (where we stayed with Kumuka) to collect the clothes that Grace left on the coach, then finally to the airport on the Metro.

Airport prices were unbelievable! We had an ok pasta for 10 Lira which isn’t too bad, but drinks were 2-3 times normal, and an ice cream that would have cost 2.50 on the high st was 5-6 Lira. Not surprisingly we didn’t spend much time in the shops. It was a good flight home apart from the controls in our seats not working. No sound for the movie, no light control, no attendant call. We complained but all they could offer was single seats in other places. When the food came (good food and great chocolate coated profiterol dessert) the attendant gave us extra Gin & tonic and two small bottles of champagne for our troubles. Maybe she was hoping we’d get drunk and fall asleep!

Tube and train, tired walk, home to our lovely, a’hem, airbed. It seems to have gone so quickly, but a fantastic (funtistic) trip with some great people.