Istanbul
Interior Aya Sofiya
Istanbul has 17 million people and there are no campsites close to town although there is a car park that motorhomers use to overnight which is on Kennedy Caddesi.
We stayed a campsite on the Sea of Marmara (Semizkum Mocamp) which was a wonderful location but still 70kms into the centre of Istanbul but we were fortunate to be able to get a lift in and out of town in a private car and share petrol costs. We have heard of other people who have taken public transport which can take a few hours and then taken a hotel room for the night before going back to the campsite.
We stayed a campsite on the Sea of Marmara (Semizkum Mocamp) which was a wonderful location but still 70kms into the centre of Istanbul but we were fortunate to be able to get a lift in and out of town in a private car and share petrol costs. We have heard of other people who have taken public transport which can take a few hours and then taken a hotel room for the night before going back to the campsite.
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mosaic from Aya Sofia
On advice we started at the 6th century basilica cistern (€10 per person) which was very impressive. It was built by Justinian II in AD 532 and provided underground water storage for the city.It was forgotten for a long time but rediscovered in 16th century after people claimed that they could go into their cellars and draw water. It was wonderfully cool and interestingly there are carp who thrive in this underwater environment.
We then went on to the 6th century Aya Sofiya Museum (a church converted into a Mosque when the muslims arrived in town) which is an amazing bit of dome architecture (€10 per person) with some splendid mosaics, and then the Blue Mosque (free) where they give you a plastic bag for your shoes, require head covering for women and if – like Gilroy – you are wearing shorts they lend you a skirt to preserve decency. A fine interior full of beautiful blues, and the exterior was like most most of the mosques we saw – and that was a lot – were very similar designs and a rather dull grey colour.
We were going on to the Topkapi Palace but it was closed on Tuesdays – a big disappointment. Instead we walked down to the Galata Bridge (new since Gilroy last crossed it in 1967) where biggish ferry ships manoeuvred like taxis and the lower deck of the bridge consisted entirely of fish restaurants.
We then went on to the 6th century Aya Sofiya Museum (a church converted into a Mosque when the muslims arrived in town) which is an amazing bit of dome architecture (€10 per person) with some splendid mosaics, and then the Blue Mosque (free) where they give you a plastic bag for your shoes, require head covering for women and if – like Gilroy – you are wearing shorts they lend you a skirt to preserve decency. A fine interior full of beautiful blues, and the exterior was like most most of the mosques we saw – and that was a lot – were very similar designs and a rather dull grey colour.
We were going on to the Topkapi Palace but it was closed on Tuesdays – a big disappointment. Instead we walked down to the Galata Bridge (new since Gilroy last crossed it in 1967) where biggish ferry ships manoeuvred like taxis and the lower deck of the bridge consisted entirely of fish restaurants.
Aya Sofiya
Basilica Cistern
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Mobile fish sandwich shop
We stopped on the bridge for an Efes (local beer) in the evening sunshine, and watched the vibrant activity as commuters ate fish fillet butties from a gaudy pitching boat and fast-food sellers did decent business.
Galata Bridge & Golden Horn
Simit seller
Click here for Hattusas & Yazlikaya and the capital of the ancient Hittite empire.
