Into the big city today! We left the car in the camp site and went to get the bus with our camping neighbours, 4 Danish guys driving around the Black Sea in a beat up old VW Caravelle... they bought it for 900 Euro and have broken down every day. So off we go, none of us speaking any Turkish. We came up to the bus stop just as 2 buses were there and a very nice girl told us that we could not get on without a ticket, but there is nowhere in Kilyos to buy tickets... tricky situation... after about 10 minutes of confusion the lovely girl had organised that we would give people the 2 lira for a swipe of their bus pass! Then she helped us into the metro station and showed us where and how to buy tickets! She was really sweet and confirmed our suspision that the old guy at the camp site is a proper hippy!

So 2 hours from having set off we arrived into Beyazit to tour the Grand Bazaar. Hmm... Seemed quite commercialised... the building was impressive, but it did remind me of Pool Market back in the day... the side streets were much more genuine. But Fintan did find a man who beat ASDA price - 8 pairs of boxers for 30 lira (that's about £15). We had a kebab - well you have to don't you?, then headed to Ayia Sofia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. We didn't get into the Blue Mosque - there was a huge queue of people, and it was too hot to be standing in the sun. But Ayia Sofia was cool. It used to be a Byzantine cathedral then was converted into a Mosque, but they are rediscovering and reconditioning the old christian mozaics and paintings.

Following all the touristy things, we walked back towards the metro collecting on our way; a tripod for Fintan's camera, an air horn, brake fluid and sun cover for the windscreen, most of the medical supplies recommended by Georgi, and a kilo of Turkish Delight! All in all a very good day. Another 2 hours back to the campsite, but then a well deserved beer!