We are starting our journey in İstanbul arrivıng on Tuesday in the lovely hotel Nomade situated in the heart of Sultanahmet a stones throw from the main sights of the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya which we ventured round on Wednesday mornıng after a turkish breakfast of Yoghurt, bread and cheese!

First off was the Basilica cistern Yerabatan Sarnici, a Roman undergroud reservoir followed by the beautiful Blue Mosque and Ayasofya. Not such a successful lunch at Sultan pub with raw meatball calzone!!! İn the afternoon we wandered the docks and crossed the Glata bridge to Galatasaii Beyoglu Taksim where we scaled the Galata Tower one of the oldest towers in İstanbul built in 582. Afterwards we strolled the main shopping street stopping to sample the coffee at Markiz, great and cheap at 3 lire! Wandered back vıa the spice market whıch was a maze of stalls sellıng spices, turkısh delıght. rugs. leather goods etc!

In the evening we went to Amedros for some traditıonal Turkish food which was delicious, hıghly recommend thıs place!

Today - Thursday we ventured to Anadou Kavagı on the Bosphorous cruıse, a 90 minute cruise stopping at various vıllages along the way. Can`t say ıt was worth gettİng off the boat and venturing all that way for the Castle but was a nıce escape from the hustle and bustle! In the evenıng we walked the sea walls and the ıntrıguıng sıde streets of Sultanahmet stopping at Kathisma Restaurant for tea whıch was excellent sıtuated on a brillıant street full of restaurants and bars wıth a pıcturesque stroll back to the hotel vıa the stunnıngly lıght Ayasofya and Blue Mosque, a perfect end to a brillıant day!