I had a fabulous first day. I took a walking tour of the Old Town Istanbul neighborhood of Sultanahmet.
We toured the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the area that was the Roman Hipodrome, Topkapi Palace and the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent. The Spice Bazaar is closed on Sundays but I’ll see it later in the week. The Blue Mosque is closed for renovations so I won’t see it at all.
Walking in Old Town is wonderful. Pastry shops with windows displaying the pastries like objects of art are everywhere. Views of the Bosphorous, the Gálata Bridge and the Golden Horn are incredible.
I made fast friends and shared lunch with 3 young men on the tour, Walter from Italy, Victor from Peru and Aslap from India. Their combined age approximates mine. It was really fun.
And after a full day, I’m boarding a 9:00 Turkish Airlines flight to Izmir (f/k/a Smyrna), with Kusadasi, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Roman ruins of Ephesus on tap for tomorrow. Then on Tuesday it’s on to Pamukale.
