We were up about 6:15am for the Istanbul sail in, which is one of the more interesting ports on the trip. We were here 2 years ago on the world cruise so we knew roughly what to expect. The ship was berthed in exactly the same spot as before and last time we took a taxi, available straight off the gang plank, but this time, we opted to walk into town, as Paula was much better and it wasn’t too hot.
There was a shuttle bus arranged (at a cost) from the exit to the immigration hall, up to the Grand Bazaar. In a classic case of queue mismanagement (or total lack of management), when we got to the building entrance, wharf-side, the queue to get out was stationary.
We found that the delay was only because of the queue for the shuttle bus. We simply walked past, had our cruise cards scanned by immigration and out the side door… Two years ago, the only port entrance was way beyond the bow of the ship, away from the town and it added almost a kilometre to the hot walk back.
This time, we had watched from our balcony as people walked towards the town and past a Korean naval ship and a 4 masted tourist sailing ship. As they didn’t return, we assumed that there was an exit at the city end. Although we didn’t walk along the quay, there was a turnstile exit not far from the ship and we were able to walk out to the main road, where there were trams and hopefully, a HO HO bus. The only bus we saw didn’t seem to be stopping anywhere near us, so we opted to walk into town instead. It is a flat, pleasant walk and over the river bridge to an underpass to the city. In the underpass were several shops and the owners weren’t at all pushy and I ended up with a long sleeved shirt for $US5, which I thought very reasonable – though I haven’t yet taken it out of its packaging and tried it on!
We knew our way to the famed spice market and this is a place I could happily spend a lot of money if I was living locally, but prices seemed to be much higher than two years ago, so we came away empty handed.
Onwards and upwards to the Grand Bazaar – 4,000 stalls, but in reality, probably only a dozen different stalls. There are only so many leather bags, tea towels, souvenirs, shoes, jewellery and trinkets. We walked out the top end and around before heading back. Amazing that we can bump into the same 4 cruisers about three times.
Bearing in mind it was a Saturday, the area was not just busy, but congested and every other local seemed to be smoking. Yeuk. At the top of town, there were dozens of youngsters trying to sell bottles of water (and in one case, a 10 year old was selling cartons of cigarettes…) and there were empty plastic bottles everywhere.
As in the market, with each aisle specialising in one genre, so it is in the streets. One street was nothing but bed linen and tea towels, fabrics of all types etc. How on earth a shop only selling scarves, when there are so many alternative outlet, can survive, is totally beyond me.
We were coping well and the walk downhill wasn’t too bad.
Before crossing the bridge, Paula had her major expense of the day – 1TL to use the WC… (We’d heard from Dennis, that at one WC, they were doing a deal - two for the price of one. Wow, what a bargain.)
Once on the top of the centre section of the bridge, having run the gauntlet of all the pushy restaurants underneath, Paul decided that a banana at 1TL from a guy selling, was a good idea.
Whilst enjoying the banana walking across the bridge, Paula was aware of some disapproving glances. Later, we found out that the current ruler of Turkey was banning bananas and cucumbers as phallic symbols, imposing a tightening up once again on the strict Moslem view! If Turkey, having initially elected a moderate as their PM, is going the same way as Egypt, by pushing the Moslem view, then sadly, we can foresee problems ahead. There appears to be a common theme with some of these countries which may well be a deterrent to tourists in the future.
We opted to try and get back on to the quay as early as possible. We went to the water’s edge and came up against a solid barrier, so the logic was to follow the buildings and look for a way through. At the very first building, there was a coach parked outside, with a fair few people with luggage, quite possibly heading for the four masted ship. Looking into the building I spied a passport control so we mingled with the (Japanese?) tourists, had our cruise cards scanned, our back pack scanned and then through the hall to the quay exit, where the cruise cards were scanned again and hey presto, we were on the quay. Eureka! That made us extremely happy, as we merely walked back along the quay, past the 4 master and the Korean navy ship, so unlike in 2011, we didn’t have to double back in the steaming heat which was good for both of us. Paula had managed the whole day without a major problem, but still needed a sip of water every now and again.
A coffee and a $2.00 mango juice on board and back to the cabin.
Whilst Paula had a well-deserved nod (and thanks to Ros for the hint), I signed on to the internet and found that I could purchase an extra 1,000 internet minutes for each of us at no cost! Great.
Paula definitely on the mend, but ominously, I started with the early symptoms of a head-cold again.
With a 7pm sail-way, plus a celebration of Sharon and David making it to 50 years of wedded bliss (we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that score) it was open dining, though Mal & Megan missed that announcement, so we just grabbed a bite from the buffet – with a couple of extra fruit jellies (which are very nice on board) for the fridge.
After an early start to the day, an early retirement to the cabin, to watch the wonderful Merryl Streep, in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
Another Coldral tablet, so hopefully the head-cold will be kept under control.
Two sea days ahead, with the ANZAC concentration tomorrow morning as we trundle around ANZAC Cove with a 6:30am service and it also Father’s Day, with a special at the Lotus Spa – for men, and yet another formal night. A group decision was taken to support the formal night tomorrow.
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