Walkabout and Rush

Got up early and took the metro to the bus to the airport. Flew to Istanbul and took the metro into town. I had found a cute looking hotel for 32.5 a night and it said to walk for 10 minutes from Taksim Square. By the way I am fine today, my bad mood lasted only as long as my birthday. So we get to Taksim square and start walking around trying to find this place. Taksim square is a really popular place to stay, based on the number of hotels, but it is over a bridge and a decent walk from all the main sights. Anyway we cannot find this hotel, and everyother hotel we ask about for prices is saying 70-100 dollars. Mind you these places are all dead. It was so frustrating because they have no business, but they charge like they are at capacity. They all were the same too, obvious example of price fixing. Well we go to an internet place to try and figure out EXACTLY where this hotel is and discover that it is on the other side no where near Taksim square. So we start walking to try and find the bridge, get turned around a couple times but also get to see some lovely mosques and a GORGEOUS palace. FInally find the bridge, cross it, find the hotel. It is right across from the train station in maybe not the best area but we go in. Ask the price, 60 euros. We say that the website said 32.50, they say that is the corporate price, we say no that is the price. Well Cook actually had this conversation, I stood outside because I was afraid I'd scream at them. She came out and told me what they said and I could see them in there, so sure we'd come in and pay more than twice what they'd advertised, but I had had quite enough and we left. Walked and walked and walked, first hostel we saw we went in. It was a Korean hostel I guess, I'll the signs were in Korean and the people downstairs all said they were from Korea and seemed shocked to see us there. We had a 6 bed room to ourselves. We had walked all over for 5 or 6 hours, so we crashed hard.

10th- Woke up, there was a beetle on the wall, killed it, seemed to be an isolated incident so let it go. Spent the day in bed, we had slept in really late. It was raining out anyway and we planned our trip. Decided to go down to Olympos and the treehouses and so that night we went out and got our flight. Walked around looking for net, realized we were staying right next to the Hagia Sofiya. Then went to bed again.

No we didn't see everyhting, but it was better than nothing

11th- Went to breakfast then to Topkapi Palace. Really sprawling place. Did the Harem tour, which was really cool, beautiful tile work. Then to the Hagia Sofiya which had some lovely mosaics and was just huge. Then the Bascila Cistern which I absolutely loved. All these arches and columns and water drip driping down and lights that went to the music they were playing and undelievably there were even good sized fish in the water! The Medusa heads were cool and it was just really neat and different. Definately my favorite place in Istanbul. From there the old Hippodrome then the Blue Mosque which had unfathomable amounts of incredible tile work. From there to the grand bazaar which seemed a little touristy, what with the faux designer purses and the jean stands. Grabbed a bite to eat and then walked around, stopping at a bakery. Then over to the hamam where we spent a good number of hours.  Layed naked on the hot marble slad and then went into one of the little "rooms" and bahted. So cool how they do it, a mable basin with hot hot water and cold water running into it and then they mix to warm. You take a bowl and scoop the water from the basin and pour it on yourself to wash. It is so lovely, and the basins overflow which makes it sound like waterfalls or something. So peaceful and relaxing and even though the marble slab is a bit uncomfortable it was great. It want some of those basins in my house, they are just great. Walked back to the hotel and went to bed. We fly out at 8 am for we have to be up at 6.