Tuesday August 1, 2023
Anywho, we were much closer to baggage claim this time only 1 fast walkway and an escalator down to claim number 12 which was directly across from the exit, and only a short walk to door 14 where went immediately to G55 and said we have arrived. The airport was much more busy this time since it was lunch time. We got into a super fancy van with WiFi and curtains and took our hour drive to the Sirkeci Mansion Hotel and our checked bag was still here! We crammed into the tiny 4 person elevator and went to the third floor as we are in 2301 and 2302 with an adjoining door. The view is horrible as it looks at a roof and a neighboring apartment building but is much cheaper. Cheap is good as we are not here for the view out our window! We then went to the park and next door at had some lunch. I had a coke and salad since it was around 2 and didn’t want to eat too much. We walked through the park down to the water. tea at 3:30 and lounged around till 5:30 and then popped up to the deck lounge terrace for a beer and wine and nuts. Then at 6 wanted food since we where hungry so moseyed down to the Red River, which is a country themed restaurant pub based on a John Wayne move. At least they had beer. I had a Leffe Blonde and a chicken quesadilla with ‘little chicken’. It was good. We also had a fried wonder of fries, onion rings, and cheese sticks. Then we all came back to to hotel and collapsed into bed at around 9.
Wednesday August 2, 2023
Singing woke me up at an 6am. I later learned you can see national prayer times here, and which I guess is cool. But went back to bed and my alarm went off at 8:30. I slept some more as I need a vacation from my vacation. We finally rolled out of bed around 10:45 as a group and took an hour to get ready. We left the hotel as the day moved into the hottest part of the day at 11:50 and walked to the Blue Mosque.
We dropped our laundry off to a shop that charged 150 per kilo to wash and fold. We had 855 lira worth of laundry or around 30 US bucks which is around 7 kilos. We stopped by an ATM an I pulled out 60 US dollars or 1500 lira. The goal was to have at least have for laundry.
We had no idea what we were doing but followed signs that said tourist information that went no where. We saw a booth for a 15 day 500 meusum pass for 130 US dollars which is cool if you are here that long? We regrouped over lunch next to the Blue Mosque, and bang prayer happened at 1:15 and lasted 8 minutes. I had a veggie wrap and a coke. The vultures at the table ate my fries since I ordered early while everyone else was being indecisive, but eventually everyone got food.
We then got in line for the Blue Mosque and ‘tour guides’ tell you you can skip the line and get right in. We were offered an amazing rate of 20 per person, and 10 for the kid, then the kid was free. I pulled out my wad and sorry this is not enough, and then said the mosque was like any other church we have seen. Fiona scolded me and labeled me a dumb American. Yup. I did get an ice cream for the kids as we waited which then would turn into after each cultural line we stood in ice cream they wanted. A triple Vanilla and 2 scoop Mango. 150 lira. They finished before we entered the Mosque. We then were allowed to go into the mosque but the ladies where wearing tank tops and shorts so they had to get full on wizard robes with a hood. 80 lira for two sure. This was our donation to the mosque.
Then we had to take our shoes off in the hallway and put them in a shoe cubby with all the other shoes. On our way in we passed a foot washing station in case you had no socks on or when barefoot. We then went in at it was very cool. Lots of lights hanging down and just a wide open space, no pews. At the front was the men’s section and little men yelled at girls/women who stepped into the men’s section. What a crock. I took my hat off, but plenty of other tourist men had hats on. Religion practices are weird and they all have them for ‘respect’ eh. This one no shoes and men at the front, for the west is take your hat off if you a man and go into a dark closet and say you are human and have human feelings and thoughts that are bad. There was literature about Islam faith and wanted to pick get one but figured I could poke around on the Internets and save a tree. We found a bathroom with holes in the ground. I guess they are easy to clean?
Then we walked across the square to the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofa Camii) across the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) and the girls had to put on their robes again. But the inside was not as impressive, but it was lighter with more glass, but was not as expansive a space. We took our shoes off here too, and Lawson almost put his shoes on inside on the carpet. Naughty, no shoes on carpet as Fiona reminded him in her wizards robe. She just needs a broom!
Then we walked over to the Basilica Cistern which was across the street and stood in line. We got a water for 5 lira, but don’t think I got enough change as all I had was big bills. Whatever. Then it was 1400 lira for all of us to see old water storage from the Roman’s. It was cool. We lost Niamh for a bit as she followed the wrong guy with a hat so she did a loop until she found us again. The columns and retrofit was pretty mind blowing. The size of this place was impressive too. There were giant stainless steel rods at the top of each column, and then new cement columns to support new buildings on top. The amount of time, energy, and engineering was pretty cool and they carved in faces on some of the column bases too.
Then we meandere a bit since we finished around 4:30 but Lawson saw a McDonald’s so we took his picture since we wanted more than chicken nuggets and the line was awful.
We want a snack and to see the water and ended up at Nora Roma Terrace Restaurant. They only take cash. Lame. We pay in US dollars, and I give them 100 lira as a tip. I had rocket salad with not much rocket. More like a tomato salad with figs.
On the walk back I got Lawson more ice cream and Niamh a water. 50 lira. We got back and I picked up clean laundry with Lawson while the girls got razors? Lawson beat me one time as I was too lazy to sit-up and look at the board correctly. It is hard to play chess at a 35 degree angle. He was happy he finally won. The girls snuck up to the roof so we popped up to the roof as well and watched the sunset and played chess. I had a Belfast beer which was good. It was around 8 when we left for dinner after a few chess matches. We went too the Pino Gare Roof Restaurant which was excellent. We did family style and split steak and chicken. I also try a Raki which is good. Everyone else turns up their nose at this traditional Turkish drink. The kids had steak and adults chicken. It was very good. It was 10:30 when we left. Niamh wanted to see the bridge st night so I took her down to the water. The mosques were lit up too which was a good surprise.
We got back around midnight and I rinsed off and went to bed around 12:30am.
Thursday August 3, 2023
Prayer baby at 6am. Yeah! Alarm at 8:30. It is 10:30 now so probably should do do something. We finally go when the princess is finally ready we leave around 11. We are off to the Grand Bazaar and the entire place is nuts. Gold, jewelry, silver, nautical items, shirts, handbags, watches, coats, pj’s, high school ball gowns, little people tulle dresses, hats, sun glasses, chess boards; shop after shop after shop. We stop at a chess board place and the guy wants 3500 lira for a 10 inch board that is a 3:1 (chess, checkers, backgammon) which is 130 bucks. I choked. It is not worth more than 500 lira. We walk away he says 1000. I go back and points to a 5 inch chess only board. I must look dumb? We can get a 5:1 chess thing for 13 bucks which is all he needs which is 350 lira. I would spend 500 on a set here, but 3500. Really? We will try again some place else as we passed about 10 chess board shops. Lol.
We find a random place to eat and they take a credit card. The view is good, but if the entire meal only the potato wedges are good. My margarita pizza tastes like it came out of a box, Fiona’s salad is tasteless without dressing, the steak the kids share is well done. We also got a cheese platter which was ok, but not more than ok.
We then leave and Lawson forgets his sun glasses so we have to back. He gets them and we find a swim trunks for me, and then we go shopping for suits for the girls. We find some. Lawson had to pee so we find a hotel and I buy an overpriced c coke for 80 lira (it should be around 40). Whatever we found Lawson a bath room and this was the price for drinking two lemonades and using the bathroom and then 20 minutes later having to use it again – yeah that makes sense? Anywho we go back and Lawson get shorts. I pull down 9/10 and a 11/12 thinking he would pick the one that fits. Instead he gets both of them, same color? Really? REALLY? Am I that bad of a shopper? He could have gotten a different color? No? Whatever? Oh wait things come in threes. We leave the store and there is an I cream man who makes a show out of giving each kid 4 scoops of different cream. Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and some other weird flavor. It costs 200 lira. Are you friggen kidding me? Oh wait the girl couldn’t say no. The picture on the front is what they make eh? Lesson learned and you can always say no. Ended up paying 400 lira for lame ice cream. Super. I’m in a great mood now. I have to finish Niamh’s cream. We walk to the spice market. It is full of spices. Super. We walk to the water which is right next to the spice market but can’t figure out what boat thing we want. We walk back to hotel. We walked 4.5 miles and was only conned twice.
I have tea, we get cold water, I get a beer. Kids play chess in the lobby lounge. I drop off our backpack and go to terrace and have a Fanta. Kids are still playing chess, badly. We leave for dinner at 7:30 to the Roof Mezze 360 and it is so much better than lunch. I had a cocktail called Lovely Kiss (gin, prosecco, strawberry purée, and a marshmallow) and a very large Efes beer with a Buratta Salad. We had a super spicy appetizer, and I had a bite of Fiona’s kebab. The kids steak was much better. Lawson was a pill so no desert. I had some tea which was nice. Then we walked home. I had a shower and now is is close to 11:30. Up early to catch a boat to wear our swimsuits. Lol.
Friday August 4, 2023
The alarm went off at 7:30, but Fiona was already up. We dressed, packed our swim suits and then ate breakfast. The driver came and got us and walked us to the bus and drove us to the boat. Dennis was our guide and was very good. It was an all day thing from 9:30am to 6pm provided by IBO travel. For 89 Euros, we got to stop at the following places: Ortaköy, Küçüksu Palace, Rumeli Hisari, Anadolu Kavagi, and a swim in the Black Sea
A mother of a 12 year old and her mom, and the kid only spoke Turkish. But we took their picture at the first stop which was an old mosque next to the river. It didn’t open till 10:30 so we walked around and I got the kids ice cream at 10am. See what a good dad I am. Haha. Anywho Niamh found a kitten she wanted to take home, we stopped into a Starbucks and got a bagel and cookie for each of the little devils since they still wanted some thing. I got water. The Starbucks app does not work in Turkey eh. we found an old building that had a plaque in it and the Turkish people followed us, they attempted to speak to us and we attempted to speak back. I said we would meet them at 10:30 for the tour. So we looped back and Niamh found another cat a big old black cranky one. Perfect for a little witch. We did bring our wizard suits for the girls but luckily we could borrow with out paying. Niamh got some help from the Turkish grandmother and it was darling to see. Fiona had a scarf and wore a over skirt. Niamh had to cover her shoulders and do the overskirt which is why she needed more help. We got the religious prayer upturned hands from grandma and we shook our head in agreement. Then we went in and Dennis explained the western influence of the chandeliers, curved windows. Then went on about the direction and name of each Arabic item and the ascension staircase. All very cool. Lets not forget we took our shoes off for this mosque too. Then back in the boat. The Turkish family had bought sesame seed pretzels and share one with us and another family. That was super nice of them. Then we popped over to the hunting lodge, Küçüksu Palace, and by now it was really cooking, with the heat baking us. There was a couple taking there wedding pictures. We saw gold leaf everywhere, old furniture, fancy fireplaces, old clocks set to 5 passed 9 in honor of Mustafa, Turkish rugs, and 1 Iranian rug (it was a gift). Outside c the palace was a cool gate. Then we hopped back in the boat. The Turkish grandmother and mom/son did their own thing.
Then we crossed to the Rumeli Hisari which was an old fortress. There was a cool story about a drive and the failures to take Constantinople many times until it worked. We hiked up to the highest point but the place was/is in the process of becoming a tourist destination. We saw a locked door of one of the three turrets at the highest point, a cistern, and more cats for Niamh to hug, squeeze, and pet. Then back on the boat for lunch as the boat hustled to the next destination which was Anadolu Kavagi, We had goat ice cream. Really that is what this place is known for? I had cookies and cream, so did Niamh, and Lawson had a double of cookies and vanilla. Mine was supposed to be a double but was a little light. Oh well, Lawson was happy. Then it was a race to the bathroom on who could change into their swimsuit and take the longest. Fiona didn’t manage to change as someone from the crew commandeered the bathroom so she only stuck her feet into the water, and she also helped a girl wear a life jacket who was afraid of the water. He 5 year old brother only lasted for 10 seconds and gave up. I jumped off the top of the boat with Lawson twice, off the diving board 3 times, and drunked the kids a few times. It was salty. It was just after 4 when we left and took the 2 hours to make it back.
We got picked up by the honky bus (everyone honks their horn here). And 30 minutes later they say hey you can walk the rest of the way. The little Turkish family gets off too and we all take pictures.
We get a recommendation for a new place the Anka Palace Cuisine which it by the Blue Mosque. Fiona‘a kebabs were super for her, but my spaghetti bolognese was way too salty. They ask us for a review, and the girls get a bracelet. It was good, but not super. 4/5 I would give it. We came back played chess had a beer. Tomorrow is our last day and will be spending mad money in crap we don’t need, but I still need my beer shirt so guess we all need something we do not need. Lol.
Saturday August 5, 2023
It is another lazy start. I’m up at 9 and the kids up by 10. We finally leave the room at 11. It is hot. Really hot. We walk. We walk some more we find a place to eat. We are across from the blue mosque at the 360 panoramic restaurant. I have a coke. They come in 250ml little bottles. Lame. I order a Fanta which comes in a standard 330ml can. Geez. I get a deep fried cheese and minced meat thing. Grease overload. I ate it. Then we walk to the grand bazaar. We get Lawson a sweatshirt. I haggle. I win. Niamh likes a Turkish hat. I haggle the lowest he will go is 500. No deal. I walk. We look at fake bags. They are expensive. No deal. We end up getting a chess board off Amazon for Lawson. It arrives Friday. Now vendors have to compete with Amazon eh.
We walked all over. Lawson had to pee so we stopped by a mosque and used their washroom. Then we walked back to the hotel but stopped by a hooka bar for relief from the heat. Lawson had a Sunday and a milkshake. I helped him with the milkshake. Lawson also got a Mustafa hat
We had dinner at a swanky place in a cistern, Sarniç Fine Dining. I had a 3 bean salad, and a fancy cocktail called ‘Istanbul’. I took a picture of what was in it as it was very yummy. Not sure I can duplicate it but I’m sure their might be a mixology try in my future.
After dinner, I picked up the laundry and Fiona finished her shopping. I’m pretty sure I counted right but the laundry guy said I was short 100 lira, so I said I would be back, and I brought it to him. I got a deal on the hat so whatever. We had to get up at 5:30 to get a car at 6 for a 10:20 flight.
Sunday August 6, 2023
I heard the morning prayer at 4 something and rolled over. Then my alarm went off at 5:25 and finished packing all our stuff. The drive took 40 minutes. Security! No that is what we had to go through again to enter the airport. Then we has to pick the right isle to checked our bags. Luckily we picked right the second time. The sign said flights to UK so we were in the right line yes! We checked in our luggage and then walked to the lounge. I used my cool priority pass to get us in. No idea if there was a fee but the kids got to sit and I had an omelette, cheese, bread, and a doughnut that was not a doughnut according to Lawson. The plane finally left at 11 and into the air