We are writing this blog to keep our friends and family up to date on our adventures while we're away. And to anyone else who stumbles upon this blog; hello!
We arrived in Istanbul at around 8 am, but didn't manage to get out of the airport and into the city until about 10 am. We couldn't check into our Airbnb accommodation until 1 pm, so we hung out in a cafe and had a walk through a park (not so leisurely when we both have 20 kg backpacks). When it was time, we grabbed a taxi. We showed the driver the address. He said he knew it. Turns out he didn't. First, there were seat belts, but nowhere to latch them. Fine. Except the traffic is so chaotic! Think people on on scooters texting, people mounting the median strips and driving along the tram line because its more convenient to them. The taxi driver had to keep stopping to wave the piece of paper with the address on it, asking people where to go. We arrive, he tells us the price. Oops. We've misplaced 50 Liras. We don't have enough money. He is angry, we are freaking. I had some Australian money, so I give it to him and its still not enough, but he kicks us out, and we're here and already exhausted.
For the rest of the afternoon, we chilled out at the Airbnb apartment and tended to our jet lag, only going out to get supplies for dinner.
The street we are staying on in Istanbul
Here is the apartment that we're staying in
Day two, we tried to get our Istanbul card, which you load with money and use for public transport. We had to go to three different vendors before we could get one. We finally get to the old town and we've missed the walking tour that we intended to do. So instead, we wander around, and take a look at Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque (we just looked from the outside, the lines are waaay too long to get in), then to the Basilica Cistern, an ancient cistern lying beneath the city.
Basilica Cistern
We also went to Suleymaniye Mosque, a lesser known mosque, with fewer crowds of tourists. We arrived at their time of prayer, so had lunch nearby and tried again. The inside was amazing.
Inside the Suleymaniye Mosque
We finished the day with a nap, then dinner at the apartment.
We will fill you in on more soon!
Thanks for reading!
Love, Gem and Jace
xx
