Silk Road - 16 May 2009

We landed at 5:00 New York time. One lady who is on the tour was on the plane and we met going through customs. It was $20 for the Turkish visa as advertised. Customs was no problem. He looked to be sure that I had the visa and that was that. I became nervous about picking up my suitcase because it took what appeared to me to be forever to arrive on the carousel. We were met outside by a representative of Cultural Folk Tours who brought us to the hotel. This evening we are going for a cruise on the Bospherous. A quick shower and a nap will set me up for this evening.

The hotel is the Barcelo and is quite comfortable. There is free internet access via a wireless network.

After a rest, we met in the lobby. It was a nice bus trip to where we took a cruise of the Bosphorus. The water was surprisingly rough. I had to hold on when I got up to take a picture. I was impressed with the lovely houses along the water’s edge. The cost of these houses runs from 4 to 20 million and up. Particularly on the Asian side, some of the houses had boat houses under the houses. These under-the-house boat houses where used in the days when the used row boats. The current in the Bosphorus is quite swift – at least two to three knots.

Sultan's hunting Lodge constructed around 1860

On the Cruise of the Bospherous - one of the palaces (not sure, which one)

View of the Bospherous - European Side


Atta Turk Bridge which connects Europe and Asia


Mosque designed by an Armenian with the Atta Turk Bridge in the background


Famed Fort constructed in 134 Days


Second Bridge that connects Europe with Asia


Famed Fort constructed in 134 Days


Bospherous Views


Second bridge connecting Europe and Asia



Bospherous View

View of Bospherous - Homes on water's edge worth between 2 and 4 million dollars

For dinner, we went to a Taverna in the Taverna district of Istanbul. The big thing there is fish. I had the sea bass which was good except for the bones. Apparently the place is run by Gypsies and after the meal was mostly done, Bora (tour leader) got up and started playing with them. I enjoyed it but I am exhausted.

Dinner at Taverna