Istanbul Day 1

Ring Necked Parakeets

We have a late start due to jet lag. The day is dull and drizzly. Our apartment is close to many of the main attractions so no need for a cab.

Almost immediately I hear the calls of parrots, turns out they are ring necked parakeets.

Basilica Cistern

Our first stop is the Basilica Cistern. John and I last toured this cistern on our honeymoon in 1992.

The cistern was created around 532AD with the work of over 7000 slaves. There are 336 ancient columns, some of the bases were reused from ancient Roman sites.

The atmosphere is amazing with different light effects changing every few minutes. Since our honeymoon, they’ve added art instalments throughout the cistern which adds to the cool vibe.

Upon exiting the cistern, I just had to buy some roasted chestnuts from a street vendor. Vince stops for a pastry.

Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi palace is our next destination. It was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Inside the walls are covered in ornate and intricate blue patterned tiles. Of course the guys make a beeline for the harem. We tour the palace and its intricate tiles for about 2 1/2 hours.

By this time Emily and I are famished. We buy some Turkish bread called simit from a street vendor, to tide us over until we find a restaurant.

We stop to listen to the call to prayer by the Hagia Sophia. Click here for a video of the call to prayer.

It is really easy to get good vegetarian food here.

Canada Goose at the Grand Bizarre

With full tummies we head to the Grand Bizarre. It is packed, especially in some of the narrower aisles. Em and I find a stall selling Canada Goose coats for $350 Canadian….the guy said they were authentic. And if you believe that…

I love the colourful lantern stalls. I also love the Turkish delight stalls…especially the ones that had free samples. I did find that prices in the Grand Bizarre are higher than other places.

At the Hamman

It’s gotten cooler and rainier. Tired and sore, we decide to try out a traditional Turkish hamman.

Women and men are separated. Emily and I are assigned a locker and given our own luffah, disposable panties (one size fits all…kind of) and a tile for a traditional bath and one for a 30 minute oil massage. We are also handed a thin towel. Em and I go into a large hot room with a large, white, heated marble slab in the middle covered in topless women also sporting black disposable panties.

I feel a bit like a sea lion finding her spot on a rock as I flop down and slither myself to a less habited spot on a slab.

I put the yellow tile on my belly and soon am summoned with the words of “Lady. here! ” by a older woman clad in black bra and panties.

I slide down the slippery marble to the area on the edge where she points. I lie on my tummy.
She throws a bucket of warm water and roughly scrubs me down with my personal luffah. “Over!” She barks.

I dare to not comply. I gingerly roll onto my back, imagining myself sliding off the slab and knocking myself out as I hit the floor. In reality, I turn over with no incident. She scrubs my belly arms and legs. “Sit!” She orders.

She soaps my hair and throws numerous pails of water over my head to rinse it out. “On your back!”

Again? I think. Now she covers me in soapy bubbles, scrubs some more and rinses. My back gets a heavy massage which both hurts and feels good at the same time. “On your back”.

More soapy bubbles. I accidently breath in some soap but dare not sneeze lest someone think I have COVID. “Nice?” She asks.

I nod.

She takes me to a room where I wait for my massage. The thirty minute massage is pure delight. My skin is soft as a baby’s.

Pizza and a View

Em and I reunite with the guys. It is dark and rainy when we leave the hamman. We stop for mint tea, pick up some wine and raki, order a take out pizza and head back to the apartment where we eat while looking out at our gorgeous view.