Jets, ships and a Bustling world class city

Taxis, airplanes, airports, one 2-hour flight and one 10 hour flight, on time arrival in Istanbul, baggage all accounted for and the shuttle to the hotel showed up as requested.  Istanbul!

The. The 25 minute drive along the shores of the beautiful Sea of Marmara to our hotel. Fishing boats, cargo ships, water taxis, ferries, sailboats, minarets in every direction, people and kitty cats everywhere. Wow. Istanbul!

It is a city of 15 million, sitting on many hills along the sea. Everything is green and blooming.

Too tired to go for the walk in the fresh air that we knew we needed, we opted instead for a wonderful dinner at the hotel with a window table overlooking the sea. Lamb kabobs and good wine.  Beautiful ambiance, and we began to relax.

A poor nights sleep (jet lag) was punctuated with the Call to Prayer at 6:15 a.m. I find it hauntingly beautiful. After a full breakfast at the hotel we were picked up for our 8 person tour. We started at the Grand Bazaar, the largest and oldest covered bazaar in the world, with 4000 shops on winding cobblestone streets. It is a feast for the eyes, ...my granddaughter would have loved it, everything sparkles from gold jewelry to mosaic lamps, to belly dancer costumes, to beaded shoes with turned up toes.

Then on to the magnificent Hagia Sophia, built in 500. It was the seat of Christendom for centuries, then an important mosque for centuries, and now a museum. We ended the morning with a walk through the underground cistern with its shimmering water, tall columns, walkways, and ethereal lighting. Janes Bonds From Russia With Love was filmed here!

Now we are on the ship and so delighted with it all. We have a lovely veranda that will be well used, a bottle of bubbly, fresh flowers, and 'just now delivered' canapés!

The adventure has begun.

PS correction to the last post...it is the Aegean Sea, not the Adriatic,