Back to Istanbul - we flew into the Ataturk, the smaller airport in the middle of town, and had a beautiful view of the city. We flew directly over the city, out over the Black Sea and then turned 180 degrees and back to the airport. Again, an easy transfer - we didn't enter the terminal but were able to get checked through outside.
We drove along the Bosphorus on a pretty, tree lined street with flowers planted in the median and a narrow greenbelt or park separating the roadway from the sea. We boarded a large boat for a dinner cruise and to celebrate Paula's 55th birthday. We had a beautiful cruise on the Bosphorus along both the European and Asian shorelines. We had a beautiful view of the many palaces and mosques lit up along the shoreline.
The Golden Horn suspension bridge (9th longest in the world) was lit up and would change from white, to blue, green, and red. It was a great night and a wonderful way to celebrate Paula's birthday. We had a huge feast of a meal followed by birthday cake.
When we checked into our hotel, the Four Seasons Sutanahmet, we had another surprise, more birthday cake.
The hotel was a great old building located in the center of Constantinople (the old area of town located within the old city walls) adjacent to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. We had a large, spacious room with a view of the Hagia Sophia and an archeology dig.
A beautiful hotel with outstanding service.
Istanbul is a city of 16 million that spreads out in all directions and never stops moving. The streets, cafes and bars are teeming with people from 7:30 in the morning to the wee hours the next morning. There are mosques and palaces everywhere with intriguing, narrow cobblestone streets leading off to interesting shops and cafes. From everywhere is a view of the Bosphorus or Golden horn. The Bosphorus is crowded with ships, modern ferries and boats of all description.
I enjoyed the eerie call to prayer ringing out from all the many competing minarets. Istanbul deserves another visit when we can devote more time to enjoying her unique beauty and charm.
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:London, England
I love Istanbul and I didn't even get to stay in the Midnight Express Jail Four Seasons.
ReplyDelete