Sailing Turkey

Days 16 – 18 Marmaris to Istanbul

Day 16

For our final day, we decidedly took our time.  We woke up, read, swam, paddled, ran along the coast (Leah and Ian did) and then sailed off in the direction of Marmaris.  Along the way we made our plans for our next sailing adventure (Seychelles maybe?). 

Once we got to Marmaris, we checked in, and Jason and I went into town for dinner while Leah and Ian stayed back to eat at the marina.  We had such a great time in Marmaris, not because we loved the town (it reminded us a bit too much of Bodrum), but because the restaurant was delicious, with a great view and a delightful waiter who made the experience even better.  Jason had the best lamb he’d ever had. 

We all spent our last night on the boat, ready to fly first thing in the morning.

Day 17

We woke up in Marmaris, took our car service to the airport (though he actually dropped us off at the wrong terminal, so we had to walk quite a ways to the right one), flew to Istanbul, and took another cab to our hotel.  After that exhausting day of travel, we headed right to the hotel roof for a drink.  What a view!

After some walking around to hit the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, we decided to have dinner at a restaurant close to our hotel.  I know you’re tired of hearing this, but it was our best meal yet!  Jason got Testi Kebab, which he had been pining for, and Leah, the lamb aficionado, got to eat the best lamb she’s had on the trip… all of us were thrilled with our dinner, which was the last one for our friends in Turkey (we’re here another day and half).

Day 18

The next day was spent mostly shopping and walking neighborhoods we hadn’t been to yet since we’d been to all the touristy spots already.  We took the ferry to the Asian side of the city to Kadikoy, where we walked around the market and into the neighborhood of Moda.  I loved it there, I think if we decided to move to Istanbul, it might be where I would want to live.  It was full of adorable apartment buildings, the best little ice cream shop in Istanbul, little cafes, a pretty little park where people we picnicking, unusual art galleries, even a Christian high school! 

We still hadn’t been to Dolmabace Palace, and had planned to go tomorrow morning, but found out it was closed tomorrow, so we thought we should head over and see it while we can.  We took the ferry back over to Europe and stood in an hour-long line waiting to buy tickets…  while waiting, we really noticed that there was a strange group of people waiting in line, something just odd.  I can’t lie, it wasn’t great…  We were on the English tour, but our guide didn’t tell us anything at all!  We just walked quickly through the building, unable to actually see anything.  All of the tourists were banging into us and cutting in front of each other, and the building was in pretty bad disrepair.  Such a waste of time, we didn’t even take pictures.

Next we took the funicular up to Taksim to grab a snack and drink, and then headed slowly back to the hotel, stopping to look at paintings to bring home for our walls.

Our hotel’s concierge suggested a restaurant for us to try on our last night in Turkey and even arranged for transportation for us.  We asked for someplace romantic with a view and great food.  One out of three aint bad, right?  It was lovely, actually, just not exactly romantic… and the view wasn’t really of the city, but of party-goers in the streets below and the across the way at a restaurant.  But the food…  so good!  We loved every morsel.  And were entertained by the fun and dancing across the way.