Friday
Dear Elsie
Today we arrived back in Istanbul for the last little leg of our holiday. It began with some beautiful sweeping views of the Asian side of the city that began its life as Constantinople. He founded it in 330AD.
We hung around the ship for the morning and I got work done with this view…
Just before 12 noon we went down to our specified meeting place and found no one there, so without further ado, we found the exit and disembarked.
After getting through passport control, we found our luggage and then headed out to the Taxi stop. We had paid the equivalent of R200 to get us to the port at the start of our cruise. Now they wanted Euro 20 to get us back. We decided to forgo that and walked out the dock to the next taxi rank. It was a bit of a schlep because we had to drag all our luggage, so imagine my (I hate my life) moment when they also said Euro 20! That resulted in much haggling, which I also don’t enjoy before eventually we settled on R300, including the tip. The pain was not over as we inched pitifully through bumper to bumper traffic.
We finally got through the traffic jam and soon got to our hotel. After settling in, Mike and Julian took all our washing to the laundry and that was helpful. I worked in the afternoon and then around 5pm we took off to find out where the Blue Mosque is. It is an 8 minute walk away.
This is the view from the main square where there is also a tall obelisk.
It is imposing, but what is even more startling is how long it has been there for…
It’s got a fascinating history. It was erected at this point in 390AD but was originally from the 18th dynasty of Egypt (around 1479 BC). Remarkable that it has stood here for so long.
We walked past ancient walls, bustling tourists and pleading carpet sellers before arriving at the Bosphorus and walking to the restaurant for dinner.
Back at the hotel, the light is fading and I will soon be asleep. The hotel is very centrally located; our room is spacious and comfortable and we can see the river (just)
We are very grateful to have had a month away and thus far, all has gone well.
Psalm 108:4-5
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂