Istanbul!

Skipped the 40euro taxi ride & morning traffic from airport to Sultanahmet, the old city, for a 4euro subway & tram trip with the locals. More adrenalin - where am I?

Straight to the rooftop of the Burckin Suites (not Burckin Suits as the monogrammed linen & toiletries suggest), for breakfast overlooking the Blue Mosque, Hargia Sophia & the Bosphorous. Ahhh - sea breeze and 26 degrees, muddy blarvellous!

Ripe stone fruits, strawberries, persimmon & apple with fresh local yoghurt, ripe tomato slices topped with fresh fetta & corek otu (pronounced cho-rek o-too) seeds, soft fetta balled & rolled in fresh fennel tips, some in sesame seed, some in paprika, semi dried black olives, seriously chillied green olives, tomato, cucumber & fennel tip salad, melt in the mouth eggplant, fresh tomato sauce & olive oil, ruby grapefruit juice squeezed to order. Simple, fresh, delicious!

Some local wine research, with purchasing for the gulet trip in mind & a few sleeps later, breakfast time again.

Then, exercise!

Off to the spice markets first, - all color, motion, noise & wonderful assault on the nose & eyes. A favourite Istanbul spot for me.

From the markets crossed from the European to the Asian side of the city. The bridge lined either side with fishermen shoulder to shoulder, as was the port I wandered along on the Asian side. The Turk version of hunting & gathering? Puny sized fish!

Finally found the Istanbul Modern Art Gallery, a stunning space with attention to photographic and cinematographic work as well as pictorial and sculptural, and a large art library. A huge, energetic shift from traditional, Ottoman inspired work to a plethora of styles, subjects and materials. There is something edgy and raw about the work - worth a visit!

Next was sussing the locality of Sensus, a brilliant showcase wine store for Turkish wine! The store is at Beyogio, a big uphill hike, close to the Mosque.

The most exciting Turkish wine phenomena is the native varieties, possibly some of the oldest in the world - the industry started here some 6000 years ago. Emir and Narice are worth seeking out, either as straight varietals or as blends with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Then Okuzgozu (my keyboard doesn't allow for the Turkish inflections on letters), Kalice Karasi and Bogazkere. This in addition to the familiar Savvy Blanc, Chardonnay, Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah.....

I will spare further research for now.

So, hotfoot back to check out, and flight to Antalya, over snow capped mountains to 27 degrees on the coast! Gorgeous.

Another adventure later, exploring by local bus from the airport to the city with deplorable Turkish vocab, to meet up with 6 of the 9 gulet sailors I am heading to sea with. We are staying at Alp Pasa Hotel in Kalecei, the old city in Antalya - beautiful harbour, and a great hotel.

Dinner happened, more focussed on getting the wine selection for the boat trip organised.

Tomorrow to sea!!!!