Instanbul

http://redriverpub.com/

This is the pub that the bloke at the hotel recommended. I went last night and it was really good. Might go there tonight as well.

there were called spring rolls and were filled with cheese. I ate the lot! With 3 glasses of rosé!

I really like it here. I've walked miles on both days. I have an extra day here as I want able to get a sleeper train to Sofia tonight. A bonus really. I was here with Rob in 1997. I remembered some of it.

I have a great hotel near the railway station and my room is incredible.

breakfast is provided and it's probably one of the best I've had. The staff are really helpful too. 

Yesterday I followed the tram route. I found parks, Byzantine ruins, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and much more.

the Bosphorus

the trams are very efficient. Some beautiful buildings

lots of cats

I

byzantine ruins still being excavated.

all part of three Blue Mosque. The best toilets I've ever seen.

a sultan's cemetery

the grand bazaar - the first in Istanbul 

I also went past a fete raising money for Gaza. It was very sad and heartening. Lots of home made produce

Think I walked about 91/2 KMs

After dinner and my drinks I had a shower and went to bed! 

Day 2

I walked along the water and over the bridge to explore. It's very very hilly over there. I walked up hills, up steps and then more hills and more steps. Such good fun exploring. 

I went up the Galati tower. A beautiful old building and then to the rainbow steps.

i don't know where that bloody photo has come from. I don't have a photo with morning walk on it!!! 

I climbed up these!

i climbed up this hill.

and more hill!

note the step hill! Up again!

the Galati tower

the view from the top

The roof

look at the thick walls

artifacts found

and then the stairs to come down. Up by lift

6 lots of steps down.

I'm so glad I went up.

Then I found my way to the rainbow stairs

https://thirdeyetraveller.com/rainbow-stairs-in-istanbul/

Luckily I had Google maps. I bought an Airalo e-sim and it had been a bonus.

these water fountains all work. I've seen people drink from them.

just another hill.

l loved this car blithely unaware of what was going on outside.

this was an amazing find. This is a film set. There was heaps of traffic behind them! Lanes are very narrow and cars just have to wait.

support for Palestinians

a gorgeous for to a house and beyond

this was a very long steep hill

behind and in front

and then steps up

and more steps up

home for cats

another up

and there are the rainbow steps!

So then I made my way down the hill.

this girl had a skinniest legs I've ever seen!

an uphill!

that's the way I came - it was a long uphill!

and then I had to go down steps

and more down

and more. I met a lady coming up these. She looked exhausted!

and at the bottom this gorgeous cat.

and the water. I was going to have a drink here but it was an electronic menu that didn't work well. I had a rest and left.

i walked back to the bridge. This is a university. What a great spot.

The big ships come to this side too so lots of very upmarket shops and ask the big name hotels. 

Completely different to my side!

of course another mosque

and a ship leaving.

my same place for dinner.

my same lovely dinner

and creme brulée

And this one the menu - the drink we had on the Cape York trip - Jagermeister. But I had my rosé;