Around the world in Photos

[bee-ess]

Istanbul - quite a few

 

 

[bee-ess]

Istanbul - Boat trip on the Bosphorus

 

 

[Eddie99]

Lovely

[zap99]

Not our favourite city in the world. Glad we went, but won't be rushing back. Perhaps it was the guide we had. We don't pay for a trip and expect to be told that infadels shouldn't be allowed in the mosque.

[Ardennais]

I haven’t been to Istanbul. The photos are wonderful - it really does look like the gateway to the East. 

[Izzywiz]

So sad to hear that comment from Zap99 but, unfortunately, that kind of attitude happens and it can cloud the impression of a place. We were lucky to have a wonderful guide who brought Istanbul to life and who welcomed us to her country and culture so we had a great experience and loved the city.

Sailing through the Dardanelles Strait was a sobering reminder of WW1...

 

 

We then sailed through the Bosphorus before heading into the Black Sea for the main part of the cruise...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by Izzywiz
spelling mistake

[Izzywiz]

Our last port was Istanbul and we were up early to see the sunrise before joining our city tour. The city is certainly the meeting place of east and west...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

The Blue Mosque

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

Topkapi Palace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

Hagia Sophia

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

and, lastly, my absolute favourite....The Grand Bazaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now Kusadasi...here we come !!

 

[Bloodaxe]

We have been twice to Istanbul, the first time we had a overnight on the ship and had a great two days sightseeing.

The second time we had a overnight in a hotel before boarding the ship but never left the hotel grounds.

There was rioting in the streets, some protests about parkland being built on against the public's wishes.

We hardly slept that night due to the noise of banging drums etcetera, if that had been out first visit we would probably have never gone back.

Edited February 25, 2021 by Bloodaxe

[Gettingwarmer]

We stayed overnight and visited the Dolmabahce Palace the next day.

 

The palace from the ship

[Dermotsgirl]

Istanbul 

[Gettingwarmer]

The first time we went to Istanbul the Marathon was taking part and it was pouring with rain. It made getting around town very difficult as many roads were closed and crowded with people and we were not equiped for the weather.

Edited February 25, 2021 by Gettingwarmer

[nicki-k]

Great photos and more destinations to add to the bucket list.

[welshwizards]

Oh my goodness the wonderful photos of Istanbul have brought back memories. The sail in late am / early pm was magnificent, as we sailed up we heard the Imans calling worshippers to prayers from the Minarets and to see the palaces and the Mosques is a sight I will never forgot. Even today I can hear the sounds and they send shivers down my spine. 

 

Edited February 25, 2021 by welshwizards

[Gettingwarmer]

Kusadasi today. Tomorrow the island of Rhodes.

 

The terraced houses.

 

[bee-ess]

Kusadasi

 

 

[bee-ess]

Ephesus

[Izzywiz]

This thread is so uplifting in these gloomy times and I'm loving revisiting such exciting destinations. We have been to Kusadasi twice, the first was at the end of October 2008 and the second time was at the end of November 2015 so we enjoyed pleasant weather and missed the crowds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

We visited the huge Golden statue and the House of the Virgin Mary 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Izzywiz]

I was so impressed with Ephesus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aulanis]

This stop is the port from which most people visit Ephesus.

We went there many years ago on a land tour of Turkey and had

an excellent guide who brought the place alive.   On this cruise

we had already decided we wouldnt go again  and on the day

it seemed there was a chance that those who went would not

be able to visit as  the civil servants which included the  people

who sold the tickets and opened the site had not been paid for

some time.  Added to that there may have been some trouble

with Syria and the captain suggested that if we went ashore

we should be vigilant and  try not to look like tourists!!

A bit difficult unless you have dark skin a leather jacket and

smoke.  Most of the Americans  stayed on the ship  & we had a

few hours wandering around the port which was pretty quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to tomorrow as we have always missed out on Rhodes, but I have a project to keep

me busy. 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Aulanis

[zap99]

Funny old place. Not East meets West, but modern meets ancient. I tried to find a few that are a bit unusual.