Day One Hundred One - April 16

On Day Two in Istanbul both Janice and I went our separate ways. I will let Janice provide you with the details of her adventures.

I decided to go exploring again with the possibility of visiting the inside of a mosque. While crossing the Galata Koprusu Bridge you notice many people fishing from the bridge either for pleasure or necessity. Once over the bridge I used the pedestrain underground with its many vendors to avoid the traffic and the cars above me. I wanted to get a good vantage point of the city from another mosque further up the hill though. Just my luck that the weather was too nice and I forgot that shorts are not allowed in mosques. Well maybe next visit... as this is a city that Janice and I would like to spend more time visiting.

Now Janice will provide her comments on her day. Hi there, so nice that Martin is letting me say a few words lol. I decided to experience a real Turkish Hamman and which better place than where this ritual started in the 7th century, when it was exported to Turkey by the Romans. The concept was predicated on having places of extreme cleanliness, where purifyingthe body went hand in hand with purifying the soul. After doing a little research I decided to go with a middle of the road Hamman price wise as I felt that I would be getting what I paid for so didn"t want to go with the inexpensive one. For my friends and family that live in Winnipeg, I'm sure many of you have experienced the wonderful Hamman that is at the Fort Garry Hotel although I never did. The Hamman I chose was over 700 years old and the marble and cleanliness was amazing. I should start off by saying that women and men are seperated but I inadvertently walked into the men's section initially shocking a few of the men I think. My treatment including a 45 minute massage was 150 minutes in length. The ritual that I experienced was as follows with the same therapist Delti: I changed into a sari and robe then was led to the Hamman which was heated. I relaxed in the heat for about 15 minutes then every part of my body was scrubbed and buffed. Then more water poured on me, then had a clay body mask, then more water and my hair was shampood and conditioned - finally I layed down on my sari and was washed with soap and bubbles. Then it was more hot water followed by cold to cool down my body. Afterwards it was a trip to the relaxation lounge for a snack of turkish jellies and a drink called sherbet which is a healing drink designed to cool down and balance your blood sugar. It was very delicious and I will see if I can make some when I get home. Then I had my massage followed by a snack of tea and fresh fruit. I was also given a sari and soap to take home. So overall it was a wondereful experience although I have nothing to compare it to. I look forward to hearing what my Winnipeg family and friends have experienced.

We left the port at 16:30 and are making our way to our next port of call Mytilini (Lesbos), Greece for Easter.

There was to be a sail away party on deck but the weather somewhat turned cooler with all the lounge chairs around the deck being removed. I am not sure whether something is brewing.

It has become hazy which is not good for pictures. However the seas are calm but you cannot see very far in either direction.