Hi ,

Just after breakfast I went to the local barbershop . This is one of the experiences of my touring life . These guys make hair cutting like an art . They clip, they look, they clip they look again, they clip your nose hair, your eyebrows. They burn the hair in your ears with a lighter , you can smell your hair burning! It took near on an hr but the result was out standing.

Today we are going to investigate the Blue mosque. It is a short walk, we have decided to go early to miss the crowds . Knapsack on away we go , there are 100s of people there and we aren’t dress appropriately, so both of us need to put on a skirt type garment.

You hear all these amazing stories about the Blue Mosque so the expectation is high. Unfortunately for us it does not cut the mustard, very old building some blue, but to the untrained it is just a dark and dusty old shed with columns. Big let down.

Over our disappointment we a going to catch the tram to the Asian side to chase the best baklava in Instanbul as we have been told by two different people.

The tram journey was a breeze once we found out how to buy a ticket. We rode the tram for five stops and got off in Karakoram. This where the best baklava can be found. Like Boy Scouts trying to past the hiking badge we followed our map to the letter and there near the ferry port on the Asian side we found it. We tried some and to put into words the flavours of this wonderful dessert for me is impossible so the easiest way was to buy some to bring home.

First mission achieved time for a traditional drink , new place and all that . We also had fried sardines for lunch and they were yummy. The next mission was to the motel used in the orient express by novelist Agatha Christie. Back to the map look for the tunnel ,”what bloody tunnel” . The tunnel was the name given to the other tram line that runs to the top of the hill. We travel this short distance in the tram, its map time and a little help from a women in a shop with her computer and we are able to find the Pera Palace Hotel. This building speaks of times gone by. The outside displays grandeur from the late 1800s to the early 1900s inside it is just as if the have frozen time and at any time today could be yesteryear, of course tradition must be obeyed.

We again have conquered the unknown and we are heading to pick up our washing and rest up before heading to another restaurant .

The restaurant is a Kebab place just around the corner, their wine was not great to say the least but the fool and bread was terrific. Pictures this time

That’s todays adventure done and dusted just like the Blue Mosque. Our real tour starts tomorrow morning at 9:00am.)

So it is late now and we are going to bed. By the way Shirley has that vertigo back not feeling that good but she is soldiering on.

Love you all out there stay safe.

John and Shirley