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Istanbul 30 October 


“Work, Travel, Save, Repeat.”


A 9am start this morning was much appreciated after such a long day yesterday. We were dropped near the Hippodrome where chariot races, coronations and parades all took place starting in 203 AD.   From there we lined up over an hour to enter Hagia Sophia, a former church built by the Romans and then used as a Greek Orthodox Church before being converted to an Ottoman Mosque. A really beautiful structure the mosque in recent times has been a museum and only about 2 years ago was converted back to a mosque.  I couldn’t believe the line of people and when the numbers inside reach 2000 they shut the doors until a good number have left.

The nearby Basilica Cistern supplied the mosque’s water during the Byzantine period and we were able to walk down many steps into the cistern and walk around - was truly amazing! The cistern is used for art exhibitions and featured in the James Bond film To Russia With Love. 

Unfortunately the famous Blue Mosque is undergoing renovations and we were unable to see it from inside but it is truly spectacular from outside. 

A delicious lunch followed at Hamdi restaurant near the Spice Market. At the market we were given tastings of candy and Turkish coffee. Ozdemir Pasha, the Ottoman Governor of Yemen, introduced coffee here in 1555 during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

The Spice Market itself is very interesting, with thousands of people just wandering through, seemingly not buying much. Despite the size of the crowds the behaviour is amazing.  

Arrived back at the hotel at 5.30 and had to be dressed and ready for pickup at 6pm for a dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. This dinner was for passengers doing the grand voyage.  I think about 50 people there, mostly of the older variety! and appearing to be very seasoned travellers.  Entertainment was an excellent belly dancer! 

PS. Had trouble posting this morning. On the ship now & all seems good.   


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