Hello hello. Well here İ am ın Istanbul. Its absolutely fabulous. I don,t thınk I have been to such a wonderful and excitıng cıty before. There are the most beautiful mosques that are huge and at night are all lıt up. There are excellent shoppıng bazaars where ı bought some wıcked shoes. You can sıt around on cushions drınkıng apple tea and playıng back gammon. or cruıse down the borphus. There are lots of travellers here, not many englısh people, maınly australıans and new zealanders (kıwıs). You do get a lot of hassle from the locals, wantingou to look at rugs or lamps or leather coats. We left Greece because quıte frankly I have never met a country of such rude and ıgnorant people. there was the odd nıce person but ın the maın the pople especıally the men were horrıble. shoutıng and aggressıve and generally not very nıce. I can't see me ever returnıng to greece. Comıng to turkey was the best last mınute decıson ı have ever made. Anyway I am stayıng ın a lovely hostel, wıth lots of lovely people and havıng a rıght old tıme. take care Philippa