We had a very early rise again (5am) to be ready to leave on a ferry across the Marmara sea to Gallipoli.
Gallipoli is famous from the war for the Australian and New Zealand forces coming to the aid of the British in an attempt to control the waterways and ultimately Istanbul. It was a rather brutal fighting ground where many, including Turks, lost their lives.There is an Australian film about this, I think. So, it was interesting and both sad and sweet to read the tombstones of both young and older men who sacrificed their lives in war.
Gallipoli - ANZAC06-Apr-2013 09:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - ANZAC06-Apr-2013 09:41, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.1, 15.7mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - ANZAC06-Apr-2013 09:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - cemetary for fallen Australians (Lone Pine)06-Apr-2013 10:09, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - cemetary for fallen Australians06-Apr-2013 10:10, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 7.2, 9.4mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - cemetary for fallen Australians06-Apr-2013 10:08, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - cemetary for fallen New Zealanders06-Apr-2013 10:23, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - cemetary for fallen New Zealanders with Ataturk06-Apr-2013 10:24, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Gallipoli - trenches from the war06-Apr-2013 10:25, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100
From Gallipoli, we stopped for lunch on our way to Istanbul. We got a bit of a taste of the horrible traffic that is well-known in the city. Luckily, we still got to our hotel early enough in the evening to go out and explore Sultanhamet more.
Traffic back into Istanbul06-Apr-2013 16:52, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.2, 37.8mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Istanbul traffic - center roads for commuting buses (very smart!)06-Apr-2013 16:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
We walked around after finding a decent restaurant to eat dinner at. It was nice to finally have some real food. I think that my stomach has revolted from all of the crappy food we have been eating the past week and very little exercise. So, after dinner, we walked up near the Topkapi castle, which also faces Hagia (Haya) Sophia. It was lovely. The area is very touristy as R had warned me and so many store workers were trying to get our attention –
Our first nice dinner in Istanbul Old City near our hotel06-Apr-2013 20:41, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400
Our first nice dinner in Istanbul Old City near our hotel (Meze - appetizer)06-Apr-2013 20:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400
Our first nice dinner in Istanbul Old City near our hotel (stuffed chicken with spinach = delish!)06-Apr-2013 21:05, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 250
Istanbul - Me and Hagia Sophia again06-Apr-2013 22:27, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400
Istanbul - The Sultan Ahmet Mosque (aka Blue Mosque) at night06-Apr-2013 22:27, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400
Istanbul - Me and Hagia Sophia06-Apr-2013 22:26, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400
“Ladies, may I ask you a question?” “Can I talk to you just for a minute? – No? – Why not?” “You’re so beautiful and sexy.” “Don’t talk this guy because he’s very horny.” (This is my favorite one). “Excuse me, I am not dangerous. I own that store over there…” “Girls, you dropped something…”
The tactics are creative and persistent. Some more annoying than others…. π
So passed our first night back in Istanbul’s Old City area. We will be touring it more tomorrow at a more decent hour of the morning!
-T π
