Firstly Happy Birthday Mick! Steamed down overnight from Istanbul through the Bosporus to Kusadasi arriving midday for the tour of Ephesus a roman town which was the third town built on the spot, occupied for 6000 years. Surrounded by towns from the bible and Ephesus received visits from the apostles. Great tour and wonderful bazaars to browse through afterwards in Kusadasi itself. Fantastic show last night in the Princess Theatre- you'd pay to see it on br...

Istanbul Turkey on a quite cool, sometimes drizzly morning, on a BigBus HoponHopoff (with good WIFI on the bus) around the only city which spans two continents - Europe and Asia. Sailed up the Bosporus Strait last night after belting across the Mediterranean from Mykonos yesterday - some waves but still really calm with no impact felt on the ship. A very moving ceremony last night about 1130pm as the ship slowly moved past the Gallipoli monument lit up at night...

Last day in Turkey. Leaving at 6 pm so we left the cases at Best Point and headed for the Grand Bazaar. Jeannie was spewing - there was a Starbucks right there all the time - five minutes from the hotel. Into the Grand Bazaar - a maze of shops and covered streets. The outer Bazaar consists of formerly open streets that they have simply roofed in and laid tiles over the cobbles. To be honest though the Spice Bazaar was better - more colour, spice smells, better ba...

Up early for.our last day in Istanbul. Straight to the Blue Mosque which was absolutely jammed last night for prayers on the last night of Ramadan. Brilliant interior - very spiritual. Went to the uninterestingly named Mosaic Museum which turned out to be fantastic - the unearthed mosaic floor of a palace built by the Emperor Constantine establishing the Eastern Roman Empire around 300 AD. Brilliant. Then the Hagia Sophia from similar times but then converted to...

Where do I start? Breakfast on the rooftop terrace as usual- overlooking the Bosphorous Sea. Off to the Spice Bazaar by taxi which told us the actual price for later on. Spice Bazaar was amazing - didn't feel threatened despite the warnings and we wandered everywhere. Great displays everywhere and the smells of spice were amazing! Wandered for hours then caught a taxi back for the afternoon tour on the Bosphorous Zgolden Horn. Taxi ride interesting- first few cha...