Last Day in Turkey

So we are out at a hotel near the airport  about   20 miles from the stop where the boats leave from.   Istanbul has done its public transport brilliantly.

During rush hour the roads are TOTALLY clogged but look at the lane in the center.   The Metrobus runs all the way in in its own path separate from the cars.  Even when we took it around noon we sped past the cars and for less than $2  rode all the way to the riverfront with one change to a tram. 

We passed the ancient walls of the old city

A cat at the ferry dock

We opt for the ferry the locals travel on for which we can use our Metro pass.  This is our boat arriving at the dock.  It looks crowded because the people getting off are gathered at the front.

Actually is it very uncrowded

The contented couple.  Taken by a kind man who didn't speak English but was gracious as has been our experience throughout the trip.

Following are all scenes from our ride up the Golden Horn

The assortment of boats is amazing

We opted not to do this

A submarine open to the public

Transportation Museum

Back at the dock.  This one is for the  real tourists :).

The point of the docks is crowded with people shopping, eating,  people watching ,

The touristy restaurants under the Galata Bridge.  See the people fishing above.  Back at our hotel we found the Internet down and just got back on Tue am  10:15 am.  We leave for the airport at 11.. 

This hotel is like a UN and so breakfast has something for everyone.  The choice of cereals is interesting - cocoa puffs,  those artificial bright colored cheerios.  WE heard conversations about buying planes from the US, Australian women on holiday,   Dutch, Turks,  women and men in jeans.  Women in bright scarves.  Women in Burkas (Trivia - some remove the face piece to eat and some  slip their utensils under it.)   We saw two young women in burkas literally dancing across the street yesterday.   Burka by no means,  means no fun  and if you happen to notice the shoes you will see everything from simple sandels to glittered high heels!

And so we leave the country we love for the second time.  WE are so glad we did not heed all the warnings.  WE never felt unsafe and the people could not have been more gracious.  As I have said before, the biggest danger for me is falling which I did here and in Warsaw.  There are short drops everywhere and where you least expect them. 

So off we go to the airport for our 31 hour day and will be in Boston this evening as they say here, ,inshallah (God willing)!

I hope you have enjoyed traveling with us.   Next trip :   India in January