April 23 - Istanbul

Our final day here before we depart to Gallipoli.

Usual buffet breakfast, the staff are getting to know us now and we're enjoying conversation with them.

We then walked up the bazaar, Dad had sorted in his mind what he wanted to buy to take home. Again raining and freezing cold, not quite what was forecast but hopefully it'll improve this afternoon. Did a bit of shopping, including some food for the next couple of days then returned to the hotel to wait the pick-up for the half day Bosporus cruise/tour.

Met a really nice young Aussie couple in the foyer who were also going on the cruise. Sat with them on the boat and nice to share stories and a bit of antipodean humour, for instance when the guide pointed out what is supposedly the most expensive house in the world (sold recently for 100m euro ) her first comment was it doesn't even have a beach!

The Bosporus was very interesting, a lot of history and some very spectacular mosques and buildings. Well worth the afternoon.

Went back to the hotel and both started packing for tomorrow. Leytons school pack looking a bit small so I might be a bit like the bag lady with plastic bags for overflow. Mainly food so as the day/night wears on the problem will be self correcting.

Had dinner at the place we went to the first night, absolutely packed just shows what good Trip Advisor reviews can do. It a little family run Kebab place that is really not flash and so cheap you wouldn't think it was good quality but it is fabulous.

That's about all for today, a pretty quiet one as we get ready for tomorrow's journey and what will be an experience of a lifetime.