I was up early this morning, naturally but I think it was also in my head to get up and beat the mountains of crowds to go inside The Hagia Sophia, upstairs for a good seat at breakfast with the view of the bay and other side of Istanbul before heading out for a long walk. The Hagia Sophia was empty - perfect! It was spectacular in there, interesting to see what it would be like as they never took the murals off the wall from it being a church just plastered over...

I wonder if I will get to see the opening of the Olympics today? Tokyo 2021 (Est.2020) starts today. I had a great night sleep, the other way around compared to Cappadocia - bloody freezing this morning under just a sheet with the A/C on. Woke up in a the blue light district… when you turn the lights on they turn on blue and then you have to turn them off and on again to get the normal colour - very bizzare. Breakfast on the terrace over looking most of Ista...

I did not want to get up this morning but in the end the 4:30am wake up call was worth it. I walked up to the sunset hill and watched the balloons take off. It was a cracking view, and even better the wind was going up the valley instead of down so they all lifted snd went right over the head, I wouldn’t have been a happy bunny I don’t think, the views wouldn’t have been as good as our ride as they lifted snd instantly went straight to the top of the vall...

Sleepy morning today, a late bloomer! But it was needed, plus I have no idea of the time in the cave if I don’t turn my alarm on. I was relaxing the Jeff out today, my calf’s are like rocks they’re so tight from the uphill downhill cobble stone walking that I’m not used to anymore. I went across to the skate hotel, Grand Elite for a pool day. I could use it for free which was a bonus and I was the only one there for a good few hours minding my own busin...

The red tour today, had a feeling that I may have the same tour guide. Low and behold the crazy haired Turk walked through the door again, Ozi! This time is hair was down with a bandana in it. Not sure it suites him. This tour was more local through the different valleys and the open air museum. It was Eid Al Adha today so some of the museums were not open until later in the day meaning the tour was flipped around a little so the first stop was to Uchashir, mor...