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-   -   A trip to two continents - Istanbul (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/2151707-trip-two-continents-istanbul.html)

JapesUK Feb 16, 2024 10:28 pm

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I somehow managed to not notice this until now, it is physically impossible to use the toilet :D

Time to head off to the meeting point for my food tour…. Via the Radisson, I think.

JapesUK Feb 16, 2024 11:13 pm

A sedate 35 minute stroll and I’ve made it to the tour meeting point. On exiting my hotel it is an impressive uphill walk that gave the calves a real workout.

The route then took me through the grand bazaar and down a number of shopping streets that were incredibly busy considering it is only just 9am

And here I sit now waiting for our guide. I can see a number of other people loitering so it looks like a good mixed group.

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Depending on the pace of the tour I may do as I did on the last one and only post pictures and follow on with commentary afterwards

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 12:10 am

After a little stroll around the outside of the spice market we have reached our first stop

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JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 12:25 am

Our first breakfast.. with emphasis on the first, apparently there will be a second

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So far, everything is very tasty

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 12:44 am

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SKT-DK Feb 17, 2024 12:58 am

Enjoy Istanbul! It is a truly remarkable city with endless beauty and, as I am sure you are currently experiencing, great cuisine :)

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 1:28 am

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A short ferry trip and the tour continues in Asia

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 1:49 am

Next stop, pickles and pickle juice which you can imagine was definitely not in my wheelhouse

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JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 2:50 am

The next stop was this amazing lamb soup

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and then cookies

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And now apparently it is time for the three course meal!

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 3:10 am

A mass of meze

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And the main courses were gone before the camera had a chance :). This meat topped bread was served individually

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JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 3:52 am

Next up, kebab

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JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 4:11 am

And last but by no means least, Ice cream and Baklava

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VorelNaCestach Feb 17, 2024 5:00 am


Originally Posted by JapesUK (Post 36006290)
And last but by no means least, Ice cream and Baklava

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enjoy the trip, food, coffee, tea and baklava :)
I am soooo envious. I have been trying to find some baklava in the shopping mall I am, but haven't found a single piece.

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 5:15 am

That was a thoroughly enjoyable tour and now fully fed and back on the ferry, and the water is absolutely full of jellyfish.

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Our guide mentioned that sometimes dolphins follow the boats but today was not our day.

It will be interesting to see what the old town is like, we’ve been warned that there is a protest rally taking place so we’ll see.

JapesUK Feb 17, 2024 6:25 am

I had to cross the rally to get back to the hotel which was a 30 minute track up the hill, through the grand bazaar, and back down the hill again. The rally was huge but peaceful and predominantly female protesters.

On the way up to the bazaar the streets were absolutely packed

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Having spoken to BA holidays earlier today there was a wrinkle on changing hotels and dumping this booking, of course I had not considered that this is a double TP holiday! That left me in a bit of a quandary so decided to go for a room change instead, and…. Yay! Sometimes it’s the little things :D

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There may have been a lot of food on that tour but there was very little fluids, and I am incredibly thirsty so I think the next job is to find a beer or two and then crash and burn. I’m feeling the lack of sleep and the 20K plus steps today up and down hills.


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