Translation from Dutch into English with GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Tuesday, October 8, 1996

At the airport we discovered that we were delayed two hours (Cheap way for sure). An hour before the official check stood before the desk of Air Alpha has a large number of Turks in the row. Well, row, it was more of a big mess. Everyone got together to shout that they wanted check. Staff of the KLM that time, but in itself taken because the staff of Air Alfa was not there yet. Well, we are indeed in a row. Not that that had much sense as you thought to turn his back were from more bags and passports of people who passed somewhere in the back stood, but for us whose boyfriend was in check. Finally we also had a turn and we had elkaar.Na chairs next to the usual duty-free shopping in the shops we went to the gate for boarding. So far, so good. The problems started when we were in the plane went looking for our seats. We have found them, but they were already occupied and the people who pretended they were in love were and were not. Then a flight attendant but there achieved. Even people who had not where they stood. She went searching for us but other seats, which I would The condition stated that we had to sit next to each other. That was fortunately so, otherwise it might still annoying become. Arriving at the airport we were picked up nicely by a German-speaking youth and to our hotel. It is a very small and nice hotel. Really everything is small, the lobby, The room, bathroom and bar. However, with very friendly Staff at the reception. We sleep in a room adjacent the hall. Everything works, so that is again a reassurance. They just have no restaurant for dinner to use and before we went to even out. We took pleasure in a sandwich with meat, they call that Doner kebab. The price of a sandwich by a kind of snack bar 70,000. I also get some of that money, it's a good thing They have large bills, is in fact one million guilders 19.00. After returning home in bar (The space as large as the word) a beer drinking. Cost 90,000 each, but on the bill,otherwise we spend money.


Wednesday, October 9, 1996

I slept until half past nine, then had a lovely breakfast in our own restaurant. That was happy again in proportions, So tiny. Even the bread was sliced baguette in format appropriate to the environment. After breakfast we went downtown, we are with our hotel very very central, everything important is to walk. First to the tourist office, there we got a beautiful city map with all sights very easy. Then coins purchased for the telephone, you can not just drop them in the cells pay. Unfortunately I had my scope with me-code. Dan Evening try one again. As the first real walk we went over the Galata Bridge and we have the Galata Tower climbed. Luckily it was not really climb, but they had a lift. The city is beautiful seen from above with all those minarets of several mosques. Then I roll into the harbor a fish. This was a boat prepared. The fish was just caught on and became a large plate of fried. Very nice to see, very also good, except that the whole fish was baked (Ie with bones) and eat a little difficult between roll. So first the fish and then roll. Piet dared not well (He said he did not like it) and took a dry sandwich. You can find very cheap food. That fish sandwich cost less than 100,000, so ƒ1,90. After "lunch" we did a first cup of tea on a terrace opposite the new mosque. We wanted to visit, but there was a celebration (Or whatever they call it in Islam) busy and we had to wait. That cup of tea was at relation to other matters rather expensive (400.000) , We were really on a tourist terrace. After the new mosque, we have the Egyptian spice bazaar visited. Nice, very nice smell with all those herbs odors each other. Then we visited the tomb and its Suleyman cemetery. You can tell by the stone from the tomb to see whether a man or a woman is buried. The stone of the man is always adorned with a turban and the woman with a flower. The mosque and the courtyard were very worthwhile. En route to the hotel we have the cistern under the Hagia Sophia visited. Here were formerly stored water supplies. From the Roman period cisterns dating is beautifully refurbished, complete with a simple kind of light and sound show. It is very tasty cool, especially in summertime there will be pressure. Nor should we Regarding the weather does not complain, we can still be a blouse with short sleeves outside, it's about 20 degrees, So wrong.


Thursday, October 10, 1996

This morning it first tried to call home. Or connection, only the lady of the PTT on the other did not hear me and slammed the phone only again. Coin away. After that failed attempt, we have Turkish and Islamic Museum visited. Lots of old objects, especially from carpets Ottemaanse time. You can not understand how the origin and time of can still make out. Some carpets were so far away there were only a few ridges over. In the museum they had a courtyard on a lovely terrace, coffee and cakes we have done. Enjoying the sun seated. At the Grand Bazaar. Shops, shops, shops etc.. Never seen so many souvenir shop together. You here would be able to buy something nice. The beginning, two bracelets for Sandra and Angela. Bracelets with the notorious eye for luck. Still looking for ourselves, nothing fun seen. However, whole streets of gold shops. It's really extremely large, happy vendors not really pushy. The "normal" Turk is here and we're shopping obviously not in the tourist season. After lunch (Hamburger on a terrace near the bazaar) are we went to the remains of the Bozdogan Aqueduct from Roman times. Along the way we went to walk into the Laleli Mosque. When the aqueduct was a park with a monument Fatih, the conqueror of Istanbul. There was also a phone, so why not try it. This time it worked nice and we chatted with Patrick. After that long walk anyway, we have the rest of the bought souvenirs and we went back to the hotel for a well deserved beer. They know us there now, I only but to nod yes to the unasked question of whether we like a beer. This evening I had a meeting in the Turkish bath. Now that is good, your lovely washed by a lady with an exfoliating glove. Then had a nice up close and rinsed. Luckily I was not equal the first turn and I could be on a relaxed hour hot plate. Tried a conversation with a girl China, which also was visiting this city, but her English was not everything and my Chinese is not so good, so much there was not meaningful. Tired but I got lazy again and I went back to my husband waiting at the hotel.


Friday, October 11, 1996

The whole day we spent in the Topkapi Palace. Beautiful rooms, the rulers at that time had also not bad (What has changed ever?). Apart from the rooms used by the sultans and the rest of the nobility were used there were rooms in which the gifts and conquests of the different periods were exhibited. If you ever jewelry in large quantities and sizes to see you should look there. There was a diamond the size of a fist. It was also very busy, but we had plenty of time. For three hours we were back in the hotel and after a beer (It is a good habit) I sit reading. Piet went for a walk here and the nearby mosque visited. Maybe that those who do us every morning at 5 hours delighted with his call to prayer. For the evening we had discussed in the Turkish night Orient House. The food was really good, however was at the show and the places were really bad. We even before the end of the show left.


Saturday, October 12, 1996

A good day for a cruise on the Bosphorus. We were able to a special tourist boat, but we are not in. We took the ferry, which placed at various locations along the Bosporus and we would see where we would step out. The cost of the tickets were less than 400,000 for two people, that is ƒ3.80 per person. We would be fine with the budget? Halfway through the passage of three hours we were on the boat sent. He Here was cleaned and would leave three hours later. We investigate, on a hill by the bay, a ruined a Byzantine castle standing. We had some, so looking. With a number of us tourists, all behind Piet. They had a boundless confidence in his knowledge, but roads were uit.Ineens cheated anyway, we heard the anticipated guide (Piet so) screaming that we did not go to climb, the road was on there was only one large fence. Ultimately, we still found. Delicious blown and enjoyed the beautiful view of the Bosphorus. There was finally a way to go, it was a picnic area for the inhabitants of Istanbul. We went through that path but to gone down to the village to eat. There we were hot received and took the menu of the day for 300,000 per person (Note, however NLG 5.70 for three courses) .


Sunday, October 13, 1996

We are totally against our principles let the clock expire. it had to. We have much to do. At ten past nine we were at the Hagia Sophia which unfortunately only at half past nine open. After visiting the Hagia Sophia in its beautiful mosaics we went to the Dolmabache palace. We wanted from the Galata bridge, take the bus. After a times were sent back and forth, we bought eventually a bus ticket at a ticket counter. The man behind the counter could also tell us where the bus was to the palace, so that was nice. In the bus arrived, we wanted issuing the card, but the driver wanted money. Too bad, I had just bought tickets and had no intention of even the ride to the driver to pay. After much wrangling took driver but the card anyway. Arrived at the palace began to rain and we closed back of the line. It was very busy, it was Sunday after all and a lot of Turks wanted to visit the palace. We have least one hour in the queue. When we got to the checkout rot arrived we were shocked by the price of a ticket, it cost 700,000 per person. By Dutch standards maybe not so much (NLG 13.30) But for a Turkish standards considerable amount. Taken anyway, it would be very special and we had so long in the rain waiting. After buying the tickets we had back in line before we allowed into the palace. At one point were all Turks called forward. As usual I was angry again and I wanted to know why that was, we were finally even a long time to wait. It became clear that the waiting people divided over several language groups to give a tour. That tour was, moreover, perfectly arranged, with a very good guide for anything to say. It was definitely worth the wait worth. For the tour we had to wait in the harem, but also that was fine. After all the beautiful things in the palace and harem extensive have seen we went by bus back to the hotel. Of course we bought tickets at a ticket counter again and almost The driver obviously wanted money again. Also on this trip gave we do not again, this time he wanted the tickets did not adopt or not, we keep them in the album. Back at the hotel but once we asked the receptionist what of stuff that was completely different cards. Very simple, there are Public (State) buses and private buses. We bought more a ticket for the staatsbus and boarded a private bus. The difference was very clear: the bright red was staatsbus private bus and dark red. No wonder we do not understand and that the driver always asking for money.


Monday, October 14, 1996

I slept, then tried a travelers check in exchanged at a commercial office that is not in the old center was. What a misery, they wanted to pass the check collection when I was terribly angry and I got the worst rate for the entire trip. But we had no sense to go back to the old town. Then we have the tram to the Chora Church taken. Of course we got back from wrong, one or two stops to far. It was really good, so we came up with a real Turkish market. A lot of mess, but very nice and of course no tourists in sight. Us is that every vacation at least once. We also do not mind if you see something more. We bought some peanuts, bleaching SALTY roasted peanuts be Grose. That we have only given to the merchant when we at another stall a different kind of notes purchased. The Chora Church was very beautiful with all the restored mosaics. We still have a cup of tea has been done and Piet to polish shoes anyway, it was nevertheless a time of come. After church, we also have the Fatih Mosque and Suleyman Mosque affected. In conclusion, I have a book at the book bazaar and bought naturally in the street a couple of silver earrings. That street was more expensive than "normal" bazaar, I could even U.S. U.S. dollar payments. That evening we went to bed on time, at 4 hours, we picked up for our return flight (And I mean at night). Again a fantastic city, really very special to the people from two different cultures (European and Islamic) together around.