We started the day with a walking tour up past Aya Sofia – the Church of Holy Wisdom and up to the Blue Mosque which was pretty amazing inside (not as blue as you would think on the inside or out given its name). We then walked to the Turkish baths and on to a carpet demonstration where we learnt about how the carpets are made (at great expense!). We were given a cup of yummy hot Turkish apple tea then made our way to the Grand Bazaar – the oldest and biggest bazaar (under cover market) in the world, very easy to get lost in! We wandered around for a while and made a few purchases including a beef doner (Turkish kebab wrap – very tasty) for lunch. We walked past Topkapi palace and through the gardens down to the water front to the spice market. The Spice market was awesome, lots of great colours and smells everywhere as well of lots of taste testing of Turkish delight and other sweet goodies. We made our way back to the hotel then wandered back through the city for dinner, through the night markets and around the waterfront – great atmosphere and very cool place!
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| Walking to the Blue Mosque |
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| The Blue Mosque |
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| Walking to the Blue Mosque |
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| One of the entrances to the Blue Mosque |
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| In the courtyard of the Blue Mosque |
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| The the courtyard of the Blue Mosque |
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| Smash - our bus driver, making good use of the bag we were given to put our shoes in before entering the Blue Mosque... |
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| Looking up to the ceiling in the Bue Mosque |
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| Looking up to the ceiling in the Bue Mosque |
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| Looking up to the ceiling in the Bue Mosque |
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| Massive chandelier in the Blue Mosque |
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| Amazing Mosaic in the Blue Mosque |
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| Pretty carpet in the Blue Mosque |
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| One of the entrances to the Blue Mosque |
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| Pretty gardens around the Blue Mosque |
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| Egyptian monument in Istanbul |
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| Walking through Istanbul |
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| Learning about Turkish carpets |
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| Tasting amazing warm apple tea! |
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| Sam and I in the carpet factory |
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| yummy apple tea! |
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| Watching the carpets being made |
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| Entrance to the Grand Bazaar |
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| The Grand Bazaar built in the 15th century and covering 15 553 square metres is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world! |
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| Prayer time in the Grand bazaar |
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| Amazing Turkish goodies!! |
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| yum yum yum |
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| Sam wandering through the park around the palace |
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| Having some time out in the park around the palace |
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| Baklavar - tasty goodness |
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| Baklavalari |
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| Baklavar |
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| The view out over the river |
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| Looking down the river |
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| Wandering along the waterfront to the spice market |
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| Walking past amazing Turkish architecture |
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| Wandering along to the spice market |
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| The Spice Bazaar! |
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| Amazing spices - smells UNREAL! |
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| Interesting Turkish paste... |
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| Turkish Tea's and spices |
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| Walking back into the city |
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| Istanbul by night |
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| Istanbul by night |
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| Istanbul by night |
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