We arrived at 0800 in Istanbul then waited, and waited, and waited for the transfer to the hotel. Another packed minibus with luggage stacked to the ceiling, with one passenger sat on top of that, we got dropped at a tube station near to Sultanahmet. Great, there's no way we can even think about using the tube with all our gear!We got a cab and the driver eventually got us to the Yusufpasa Konagi Hotel at 1000.We'd have been better off getting a taxi direct when ...

Arrived back in Istanbul after a 11 ½ hour (2200-0930) coach ride from Selcuk. We had the worst possible seats right in front of the steward's area, main coach door and opposite the toilet so consequently we had a great night of uninterrupted sleep. But hey, we were on a modern VIP bus, no kidding!!! At approx 0100 Maria took her life in her hands by using the extremely cramped, smelly and 'dangerous' toilet to answer a call of nature; the bus pulled into ser...

We arrived safely in Istanbul at 0100 today and spent the day visiting the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques before wandering around the vast Grand Bazaar. Ate a very sweet sugar confectionary from a (safe) street vendor that tasted of flavoured toffee. Whilst the mosques are impressive they do not quite match the splendour of what's on offer in Iran. What will it take to impress us eh?!!