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 we first arrived in Istanbul!

Reception weren't as receptive as they could have been and it took an age, and an iphone translation app, for them to understand that we had been given a free upgrade and not that we wanted a room on the top floor (upgrade - get it)!The room was lovely and when the head receptionist arrived, who'd arranged the upgrade with Maria before our arrival, we had a guided tour around the hotel, looking at his rooms and discussing business.Then we sat in reception drinking tea and talking business before we finally escaped to have another wander around the city centre.Maria went for a look around the Blue Mosque again but only stayed a few minutes as it was packed.We just chilled for the rest of the day, ate pizza (yes, pizza) and chilled in the chic quarter.

We got back to the hotel to find a complimentary basket of fruit and wine in the room...which was adorned with my impromptu clothes line covered in socks and undies!