Tour of Turkey

Day 1:  Landed in Istanbul

We landed safely in Turkey, got through security and checked into our hotel.  The flight was long, but the 11PM takeoff was perfect.  We fell asleep almost as soon as we got on the plane, then woke up, had breakfast, played a few games together and it was time to land.  Even the security and customs lines weren't bad at all - a perfect way to start.

After a quick taxi ride, we were at our hotel.  Honestly, it looked like it was all fake!  Cobble stoned, windy roads with flowers and colorful buildings and the man checking us into the Seraglio Hotel, Kenan, couldn't have been nicer.  He gave us a quick review of the hotel and a map and sent us off to his favorite kofte place.  Jason found his soulmate, a meat lover.


We dropped our bags and headed out for some walking around and exploring Jason style.  He likes to just wander, get lost and happen upon things, I however, am a planner.  So, we started with the kofte place. 

Sultanahmet Kofteci has Jason's favorite Kofte.

Jason said it was the  best he's ever had and can't wait to tell Kenan and get his next recommendation.  He also needed to text my brother-in-law about it.  The food porn between the two of them is hysterical.  Next we walked around and I thought for sure we were lost, walking down some oddly empty roads, but we turned a corner to a street market like I've never seen.

We walked through these crazy bustling streets to the Galata Bridge, to watch the sunset.

Jade was exhausted by now, so we sat down at a restaurant right on the bridge and watched the sunset further over a Turkish beer (Efes Dark is pretty good).  It was so amazing and romantic and beautiful.  We heard ezan(sp?) for the first time (the call to prayer) while sitting there, it was all so surreal. 

We walked back to our hotel, dropped Jade off to sleep, then Jason and I went out for one last nightcap.  What an amazing first day!  We will be at this hotel for the next three nights, the longest stay at any hotel for this entire trip, but the rest will be explored Sue style, with a plan and an itinerary.  Jason kept asking me questions about the mosques we saw and the Sultans, but answer to it all was just, "We'll find out tomorrow when we go visit them!"


Meanwhile, I've got to get myself to sleep.  Jason and Jade had no problem, but I'm having some trouble with the time change.  Goodnight from Istanbul!