For those people who are planning to be here soon and it's your first trip to Istanbul. , you will love it. We have had mixed weather; cool and rainy, pouring, cool and sunny, windy, and just plain sunny.

The people are wonderful. They couldn't be nicer. Everyone has been friendly to us. Yes, the carpet salesmen are pretty bad. They are stalkers. Watch out around the Blue Mosque. That's where they first latch on to you and will follow you until you either give in or they give up.

The food has been good. I think are least expensive meals have been the best. Definitely take the ferry to Kadikoy and try to find the restaurant Ciya Sofrasi. They were very helpful and chose our food for us and it was the best so far.

In Sultanahmet we ate at The Sultanahmet Fish House. It was good and I would recommend it. We had a special that turned out to be much more expensive than we thought it would be; sea encrusted sea bass. The total meal with mezes, beer, fish, and dessert (hot halvah with icecream) with an extra tip was around $75. That's the most we have spent by far. The dollar is doing well against the Turkish Lira.

Today we chanced the weather and did the Bosphorus tour, the 6 hour one. It was really worth it and the weather cooperated. I highly recommend it.

Istanbul is a city of cats and dogs. They are everywhere. They all appear to be strays that are maintained in some way by the city. The dogs have tags in their ears.

We will most certainly be back. There is much more that we would like to do.

Hoping everyone has a great time. The weather seems to improve after we leave on the 11th.

Across from the Blue Mosque, on the street corner next to Rami restaurant, is the shop of the worst stalker carpet salesman who ever lived! He likes to wear bright shirts and throws out compliments like kisses from his perch.

"Those are beautiful shoes. You have great taste and would probably appreciate the rugs in my shop. Won't you come in?"

Have you encountered this man?

It is too bad the weather is bad. It is nice to have dinner in the fairy garden of Yesil Ev.

Have fun in Istanbul.

Thin

DH and I arrive the 11th, so yay, I'm glad to hear you say that about the weather. I hope you get a few more sunny days in, but it sounds like you're making the most of your time. Enjoy yourselves!

Thin: I don't know if it's the same man but we were stalked and followed to the Blue Mosque. The man waited for us at the exit and when my husband went out and I didn't I could see him looking anxiously and angrily from where I stood at a window. Finally I relented and when we said absolutely not for the final time he couldn't believe it and said, "Oh my god, I can't believe it". He couldn't believe how much time he had wasted on us.

The weather today is raining cats and dogs, but we have been out picking up gifts for family and just relaxing. Our hotel has four large windows overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. We can sit and watch the large ships, freighters, and fishing boats cruise back and forth.

We will return. It's a wonderful city. The people have been fabulous.

Thanks for posting. I'm glad you are having (had, I guess you are back)fun and the weather not too awful. I've been compulsively watching the weather sites and they totally disagree with one another so I have no idea what to expect. Just hope to get at least some sun. We leave tomorrow.

great post and enjoy !!! what a great line..lol

"Those are beautiful shoes. You have great taste and would probably appreciate the rugs in my shop. Won't you come in?"

We are back and recovering. I will be trying to get all my pictures downloaded and start a trip report. Istanbul was amazing. We will definitely go back; maybe next year. Yesterday was sunny and bright and brisk. We walked from our wonderful Hotel Empress Zoe around the back streets below us and over to the other side of the Blue Mosque down through the streets following the tram line to Eminou and the ferries. We briskly walked back and went to our terrace on the roof and listened to the call to prayer and watched the ships on the Bosphorus for one last time.

If anyone has ever wondered if they should visit Istanbul, a hearty yes from us.

opaldog, sounds like your really enjoyed your visit.

we will be in Istanbul in Nov. 1st

Can you tell me how to get /do the Bosphorous for 6 hours,
Thanks, Tania

Opaldog:

Didn't you love the Empress Zoe! It is a great place....

We had 2 of the Chez Garden suites and they were terrific.

taniaroth: The 6 hour Bosphorus Ferry trip is definitely recommended. Make sure you go on a day that the weather looks as if it will be nice. The ferry goes up the Bosphorus in 90 minutes stopping at the European and Asian shores. Near the top of the Bosphorus at the mouth of the Black Sea the ferry stops and lets off all passengers for 3 hours. We chose to walk up a very steep climb to the ruins of a castle/fortress. The view was amazing. While at the top we heard the call to prayer which seemed to echo all the way from Istanbul to the top of the Bosphorus. There were, of course, stray cats, dogs, and a small family home on the side of the hill with goats, sheep, guinea hens, pigs, etc.

We walked down the road to get back and were coaxed in to one of the many restaurants for a bargain 12 lira lunch that consisted of fresh whole fish, salad, beer, bread, calamari, mussels, and coffee. We literally sat on the boat ramp 4 feet from the water. It was great. We had 4 cats sitting by our feet waiting for pieces of our meal.

The ride back was the same in reverse. We got back to Istanbul at 4:30. It was inexpensive (17.50 lira rt) and a relaxing daytrip from Istanbul. We stayed in Sultanahmet and took the tram from Sultanahmet Sq. to Eminou where all the ferries park. The IDO Bosphorus ferry is right next to the Galata bridge. Buy your ticket and wait inside the ferry area. The scene around the ferry docks is great to watch. We went on a monday. The weather was best then, but the crowds were much less. We saw the boat on sunday and it was packed. We had plenty of room. We sat on top on the way up and inside on the way back where we could also walk around and go outside whenever we wanted to.

Weekender: we absolutely loved the Empress Zoe. I think I mentioned that we had the Penthouse Suite. The view was beyond compare. The room was a good size and very comfortable. The marble hammam style shower was luxurious. We were very happy with the location, the friendly staff, the public areas. We brought our computer and would go down in the evening for a wine and sit near the fireplace with jazz playing on the sound system and just feel at home. We plan to go back and will stay in the Penthouse Suite again.