the last few days in Istanbul

Taksim Park

Taksim Square

After my flight delays leaving Cappadocia - I got to Taksim square on the bus from the airport at 3pm on October 30th.  Instead of rushing through the square with my pack, I figured I should look around as I may not get a chance on another day.  Taksim square has many restaurants and cafes and was the location for the political protests that happened earlier this year in Istanbul.  I enjoyed a coffee and sandwich and did some people watching for about an  hour. 

Republic Monument - Taksim Square

Burnt Column - Cemberlitas

Upon leaving Taksim Square I took the Funicular to Kabatas (one of the local ports) and then the tram back to Sultanahmet.  I was happy to be returning to the Istanbul hostel where I had stayed at the beginning of the trip.   That night I met some backpackers at the hostel - Tiffany (Arizona), Alex (Scotland), Mikis (Belgium), Ilios (Sweden) and Maurice (California). 

 The next day - Alex, Mikis and I headed out to explore some more of the great city of Istanbul.  We started with the Blue Mosque as the guys hadn't been there yet.  After discovering a very long lineup at Topkapi Palace, we decided to move on and attempt it later on.  We wandered through the Grand Bizaar, and kept walking towards the Valens Aqueduct.  The aqueduct runs almost a kilometre long through the city and used to transport water.  It was built in the 4th century AD. 

Valens Aqueduct

 Our next stop was the St. Saviour in Chora Church.  It was quite a ways from the Aqueduct and so we took a taxi to get there.  The church had amazing frescoes, but unfortunately you couldn't use flash, so my photos didn't turn out so great.  The Church was a 4th century original which was restored in the 6th century under Emporer Justinian. 

Chora Church

Byzantine or Theodosian Wall of Istanbul

Mikis and Alex

 The Byzantine wall was located quite close to the Chora Church and so we walked along it and went up onto it in a very small section.  The Wall was built in the 5th century and protected most of Constantinople.  We taxied back to the Grand Bazaar where we went our separate ways - I had some shopping in the bazaar to do.  The taxi took us via a different route along the Golden Horn - great views of the waterfront along the way.  After the Grand Bazaar I took the road to the Spice Bazaar, which was filled with many types of spices and teas. Upon returning to the hostel I was able to catch up with Tanya who I had met in Cappadocia.

Another great evening spent  - good food and good company from the hostel. 

The New Mosque

Inside Topkapi Palace

November 1st - Friday I got to Topkapi Palace before the rush of people came - the doors opened at 9am.  Even with exploring all the rooms for 90 minutes - I was rushed to see it all.  The palace has many jewels, armour, and antiquities that you couldn't photograph.  You were allowed to take photos in some areas.


After the palace I picked up Mikis and Tanya at the hostel and we headed to the Asian side of Istanbul.  The Ferry took us on a cruise up the Bosphorous Strait, making stops on the European and Asian side.  We got off at Beylerbeyi on the Asian side. 

Topkapi Palace Grounds

Cruising the Bosphorous Strait

Tanya and Mikis

Bridge from Europe to Asia

Walking the streets on the Asian side of Istanbul

Enjoyed a delicious kiwi and chocolate waffle sandwich here

Fish Markets galore

Tripe or Pigs feet anyone?

Hagia Sophia at night

Gulhane Park

 Lots of markets with fresh fish were found.  We had a great waffle sandwich with kiwi and chocolate sauce.  We also went into a mosque, but mostly just walked around for the afternoon.  We took the bus to Uksidar - the next town and after walking through another market there - went back on the ferry to the european side. 

 I enjoyed my last hamam that evening with Tiffany.




My flight was delayed a day from November 2nd until November 3rd and so I wandered through this park on my final day in Istanbul.

The trip was fantastic - I loved every part of it.  A truly enjoyable country - I would recommend visiting Turkey to anyone. I also really loved my time in Austria.  The scenery is breathtaking, the people are friendly and the music is amazing.  

Cappadocia!

View from the plane window

Getting the balloon ready

I arrived in Kayseri on October 28 after 2 flights from Izmir and was picked up by the airport shuttle service.  By the time we reached the Nomad Cave Hostel it was dark out – 5pm.  I met Tanya from Colorado at the hostel – we went out to a local restaurant for dinner.  I had lamb shish kebab – very tasty.  Went to bed early as I knew it was going to be an early morning for the hot air balloon at sunrise. 

we have liftoff

Tuesday October 29^th – woke up at 4:40am for a 5am pickup.  Had a lovely breakfast before heading to the field where our balloon would launch from.  From 0615 til 0715 we were airborne with amazing views of many types of rock formations around the town of Goreme in Cappadocia.  Fabulous experience.  Tonnes of balloons were in the air that morning.  I was surprised that none of the balloons ever came close to colliding as there were so many.  The driver we had was excellent.  I would recommend Turkiye Balloon Tours to anyone going to Cappadocia.  It was a relaxing ride. 

Pigeon holes

our driver

Sunrise over Cappadocia

Tanya and I

I will never forget this amazing experience

Room at the Nomad Cave Hotel

starting my hike

remnants of paintings in one of the caves

Got back to the hostel before 8am, after which I proceeded to have second breakfast.  At 10am I started my walk through the surrounding hills on paths and  trails that started just outside the town of Goreme.  It was very easy to navigate – lots of signs along the way.  I toured through the Rose/Red Valley and up to a panoramic view from Kizilcukur.  There were a few drink stands along the way – enjoyed some fresh pomegranate and orange juice.  Had a lovely picnic lunch at an abandoned juice stand with a table and umbrella.  Met some nice people through the course of the day – a couple guys from France, a girl from Canada travelling with an Aussie guy, and a family from Russia.

 

I walked for 5 hours through the rock formations

Inside one of the cave dwellings

Looking out

It was a beautiful day

The dog that followed me for a couple hours

Evidence of people living in the caves

View from the top

The path to the top

Bathroom in the rock - cost $1 Euro

Marker on the trail

I learned later that the holes were made for pigeons

Where I stopped for a break - table down below

Pigeon holes

8th century church in the rock - no restorations done

8th Century church from the front

Goreme open air museum church

After leaving the valley and getting back to the main road I discovered a church.  Met a lovely Turkish couple there from Istanbul – their first time in Cappadocia.  The church was from the 8^th century and it was the original – no restoration work had been done.  The man at the church informed me that the small holes carved into many of the rock faces were made for pigeons.  From the first level of the church I went through a small low passage upward to the second level where there was a room filled with pigeon holes.  Pretty neat to see how they moved through the different levels of the caves.  After exploring the church the Turkish couple gave me a ride down the road to the Goreme Open Air Museum.  Here is a bit of detail from their website about the churches:

The town of Goreme

Nomad Cave Hotel where I stayed

It contains the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain all their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture and fresco technique. The Goreme Open Air Museum has been a member of UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984, and was one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey. The area covered by this Open Air Museum forms a coherent geographical entity and represents historical unity. There are eleven refectories within the Museum, with rock-cut churches tables and benches. Each is associated with a church. Most of the churches in Goreme Open Air Museum belong to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries.

 

That night I enjoyed a hot clay pot – baked in the oven – filled with kebab meat and vegetables and some rice.  Great dinner.  Wednesday October 30^th I flew back to Istanbul – 2 hour delay in the flight from 10:20 until 12:20pm.  Met a girl from Brazil  - Fernanda - while waiting for the flight to takeoff.