Stunning Stunning Istanbul Turkey!! What can I say….this place is all I had hoped for PLUS some things I never expected. It’s like stepping into a fantasy country that combines the best of so many cultures. A lot of Turkish, a good dollop of Greece, …there is even a strangely familiar Spanish/Portuguese edge here as well….even though I don’t know yet what the connection might be. The warm “vanilla” colored structures with orange/reddish tile roofs are dominate and stunning
Steve took this last night as we arrived with the sun setting in the distance. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our hotel which is a luxury resort style (more perks from steves job) OMG today I had my nails done here and got the perfect manicure!! The spa was so unreal!!
One woman had her mani/pedi done and her hair at the same time and she had over 8 technicians working on her at once!! I’m going back for the royal treatment before we go to France…it’s not super cheap but still very reasonable for a bit of pampering!!
I’ll get better pix of our balcony view but we kept the doors open all night!!! Kathe you asked about the temps…..OMG it’s Mediterranean PERFECTION . 78 during the day and about 65 at nite!!
Here’s a view down one of the cobblestone streets with a lot of shopping for the locals. We kept away from any tourist areas on purpose but to be honest…there are very few tourists now. The economy is just too bad
Here’s what the hotel put out for our arrival!! What a super place this is.
What the heck is this bird…a crow or a pigeon…lol. It was hard to tell
These bread vendors are at every street corner like we have Starbucks. I’m sooooooooooo bummed about my wheat allergy right now because I could just eat these bread from morning till nite!! I cheat every once in a while but regret it…not worth ruining a vacation over….but ALMOST worth it…lol
And the Turkish Coffees and teas are phenomenal!! I had two today already and probably wont sleep a wink! We are heading to see the Whirling Dervishes tonite after I post this and they may need to pull me and Bling off the dance floor I have so much caffine in me!!
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmy..the classic European baguette style lunches
And mom and Dave………..THIS is where Halva was born!!! I forgot that was going to be here!! My dad used to love this stuff and we would go through a whole block of Joyva Halva in one sitting. This stuff pictured is the read deal and we well buy some tomorrow for sure! It’s basically ground sesame seed and sugar with nuts etc added….kind of like “Turkish Fudge” but better
Is this Tshirt tooooooooooooooooo cute!! Found this on one of the street shops
And the Turkish Eye graffiiti was everywhere. I was a happy camper when I saw this!! The graffiti is more wall art here and not so much “tags”. I took a lot of pix of different eyes.
The juice vendors have a neat system of advertising the vitamin and nutrition in custom blended juices. The fruit here is super yummy and fresh. Figs, Dates, Pomagranites and Mangos ….and all sorts of nuts too
Oh boy…here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hand faceted enameled aluminum earrings!! I bought a number of pairs!!
More Wall art
Cable cars run through the city as one mode of transportation
My favorite eye shot! I have a pendant in mind for this one
Could the sky have been any bluer??
More art
This cute guy had about 2 dozen apples..that’s all. He was peeling them and selling them to passers by on an old fashioned hand crank apple peeler
This fella had just put this roasted lamb up and was slicing off paper thin pieces
And then there was feral cat row…a very old street full of musical instruments . Violin makers and drum makers who still do things the old fashioned way in their little hole in the wall studios!!! It was not on the tourist circuit…these guys have families making instruments for generations. The cats were only on this street and the artisans came out and were feeding them milk and fish
I want this kitten!!! I want this kitten. One of the most beautiful cats ever!!
Steves new sunglass purchase
Lunch today. Aubergines and a salad
