Monday
Dear Elsie,
Today was our LAST day of holiday and we spent it by going across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul. What we didn’t know or expect as we walked out our hotel this morning was there would be 1000s of people on the streets. I thought it would be quiet. After all, it was a Monday. Completely unbeknown to us is the Commemoration of Ataturk falls on 19th May. The day was warm and sunny and the crowds came out in droves. We started by catching a tram
We were squashed in like sardines! It took us 4 stops to the ferry port, where there were more crowds, pushing and shoving. We took our places amongst them.
Once on the ferry, there was plenty of seating inside, so we found a window and off we went. Cunard’s Queen Victoria is in port.
View from the ferry on the Bosphorus.
We arrived at the Asian side of Istanbul. This was as the ferry docked. Look at all the hundreds of people waiting to get on the ferry!
The Asian side was very busy but completely lacked the persistent street sellers of the Europe side. It was busy but calm. We walked down towards the bridge passing through a picturesque park.
Fishermen fishing on the Asian side with European Istanbul across the water…
The bridge that joins the two…
We bought cappuccino. I spilled half a cappuccino on the table. I was actually really irritated because no one could speak English, people had pushed in & took our cappuccino order so when I finally got them, I was ready to leave. Then they were boiling hot in paper cups and when I put them down, one of them toppled. I’d had enough so walked out to get some air after the mishap, leaving Mike and Julian scrambling to clean it up! Oops!
The day immediately improved by the arrival of a friend for Teddy.
He was so cute. Blue Teddy was made by hand by a lady who was sitting on the grass chatting with her friend. The friend spoke a bit of English and proudly announced how it was made by her friend by hand. For R125 it was worth it. I told them it was going back to South Africa and they were very happy. That was a local industry I was happy to support. They didn’t even try selling it to me. They were sitting chatting on the grass and had a few things laid out on the sidewalk. The family will know where he is going! Future family reading this, Blue Teddy was bought today on the Asian side of Istanbul.
The ferry ride home was on a smaller, equally busy ferry. I’m not sure if you can see all the people lining the water.
Back on the Western side, we crammed joyfully (not) into the tram (even more people than on the way) and so got off a stop early and walked the rest of the way. From the tramlines.
We got back to the hotel and have spent the rest of the afternoon peacefully in the lounge. I’m actually in the dining room and have done some work.
In half an hour we will have dinner and then at 8pm head for the airport.
Psalm 118:29
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂