Originally Posted by HadesNL

Ah,
- something hits the ground
out of politeness and willing to help: "you dropped something"
- the dropping as posed as "shoe shine for you?"
ofcourse, S/O is oblivous of current affairs
- it was 700 Try per shoe and not enough Try in his pocket, add €20
S/O " i have learned my lesson now, i see why you put visible evil eye talismans around your neck! "
- Nazar : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazar_(amulet)
Me: "evil itself is afraid for nothing except the evil eye being reflected back at them at magnitude 9.8, it's like a curse that works so efficient that one is never hassled!"
- so if you spot in Istanbul a built ginger redhead with a nazar amulet visible around his neck, that's my beloved

Atacama40 : sometimes its good that S/O is getting a reality check, he was expecting an Istanbul romantic fairytale of 1000 and 1 nights as Sherazade : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade

Anyway we observed this again and again next to the hotel's street and also to the park adjacent. So it is good to be aware of.

Some more positive news, for those bored of mezze and eggplant......
As one watchs out for their my diet,
(people on the cruiseship pointed and stared at me "look at him, doesn't he look grotesque like Victoria Beckham after 7 days of unlimited champers and shrimps!")
we opted to start the stay with a visit to a German restaurant.
Elementor #2 - 1931 Fischer Restaurant & Bar
- Honest service also when speaking German
- Tasty big portions (pork is available)
- Water at 750ml à TRY 85
- Mastercard/Visa accepted.
- 6 minute walk from hotel slight downhill
- in same street as f0zzyNUE 's good recommendation of https://www.aliocakbasi.com
I wanted to pop in but S/O needed some German comfort food as consolation.
He's doing much better know and hard at work financing to recoup his loss.

nicolas75 : the garden is heavenly. Put my shoes off and feetsoles both on terra firma grass and all worries melts away. There is even chirping of birds.
Enough shade also to flee from the burning sun and relax in comfort.

Photodumping here the following observations, so you get an idea about pricing
Roomservice menu + roomservice breakfast
Warning do not open if on limited bandwith.....


Final impressions
So unique retro as in classic spelling: Inter-Continental
Collector's item! Can i pry it off the wall?