June 6 – 9, 2012
TBB Note 1: TBB is roaming the streets beaches/valleys/mountains/craters of Maui this week so do not expect him to answer every comment as usual.
TBB Note 2: This was originally written in mid June 2012.
TBB Note 3: You can click on the pic to enlarge it.
TBB Mother of all Notes: If you shop at Amazon, please consider starting off your spree with the TBB Amazon affiliate link. Thank you for your support!
My return flight back to the US from Greece consisted of taking advantage of a stopover in Istanbul that is allowed when you spend United frequent flyer miles. Therefore, I got to fly business class from Thessaloniki, Greece to Istanbul on Turkish Air. It was my first flight on Turkish Air and first time to Turkey, both long held travel goals!
After a nice two hour bus ride from Larisa to Thessaloniki (second largest city in Greece’s north) I had the chance to check out the very nice Aegean Airlines lounge:
At the gate:
There is our plane, we take a short bus ride to it:
Boarding:
Service was outstanding and here is our meal in Business Class, delicious!
Landed in Istanbul:
After paying 15 euros for a Turkish visa and a short cab ride, I arrived in the hotel. I decided to stay in the Best Western Antea Palace in the main tourist attraction area called Sultanahmet. I decided to pay for the hotel as I was traveling alone. The rate was good but the hotel did not meet my already low expectations. Oh well…
Views from the hotel patio on the roof:
I arrived around 7pm at the hotel and decided to head out. Less than five minutes away I was faced with the incredible Blue Mosque:
I think this is one of the best pics I have ever taken…and it is widely known that my photography skills suck big time!
After a good night sleep and breakfast (included in the rate) in the hotel, I was off and running through the streets back to the Sultanahmet area…
First stop, Hagia Sophia, a cradle of Christian Orthodoxy!
Another amazing picture. Sitting there and taking it all in…is very emotional…and I do not consider myself religious! But I could not help but think how this amazing architectural feat has managed to survive all these centuries in the midst of Muslim control…It was one of these priceless moments that only travel can provide…
As I was here for only two full days, I decided to take a bus tour to maximize my time…
A nice little tank like vehicle in front of a police station…
Bosphorus ahead…Asia side on the other side!
This is the Galata Bridge, one of several bridges separating the European and Asian sides of Istanbul:
The outer walls of the city
I then visited the Topkapi Palace, next to hagia Sophia
In Europe, Asia on the other side
Istanbul fish market:
Vendor, I have no idea what he is selling!
Then spent some time in the magnificent Grand Bazaar, the shopping area with the 4,000 tiny stores selling everything!
Next morning I decided to hop on the bus again (ticket good for 24 hours) and took some shots along the way:
About to cross another bridge in the Bosphorus:
and finally reached my destination, the highly recommended Dolmabahce Palace…Very long line! But oh so worth it. The tour of the palace and Kemal Ataturk (the father of the Turkish nation) quarters were absolutely amazing. The palace tour is an absolute must imho! Another one of those priceless moments. I thought touring the palace in Madrid was fantastic…this place is even more stunning! I wish I could have taken some pictures (it is forbidden). Lets just say that the Sultans lived very well with their several wives and maids!
Then took the metro tram back to the center of the city.
I stopped near the Galata bridge area and watched boats go on short excursion up the Bosphorus waters and beyond. Locals do like to fish a lot here:
Walked around the many fish restaurants under the bridge:
These boats were serving fish sandwiches…you walked up to it and bought one for 5 liras (about $2.50 usd). Super delicious!
Then walked over to the Spice Market. I have never seen so many spices in my life!!
Pic above me is the entrance to the Istanbul University.
What I noticed was the vibrancy of the people…I did not see a shop closed! Clearly their economy is doing very well, there is plenty of money being spent…
Walked some back streets, this was a shoe outdoor market!
Last night, after going back to the hotel to watch Greece – Poland, the opening game of the Euro 2012 championships, I walked to the square near Blue Mosque where I got to watch a great local band playing…Salsa music…Ole!
After my walk before heading to the hotel to watch the game, I visited The Basilica Cistern, built hundreds of years ago to help with providing water to the city. A must see, very unique structure!
These are the two Medusas…they don’t know why one was upside down and one was sideaways!
I had some great watermelon from local vendors, yummy!
I loved Istanbul! Something about being in the middle Europe and Asia and its two distinct cultures, the vibrancy of the atmosphere, the smells abundant in the air, the great food, the cultural gems (see below)…Must visit in my opinion!
Very early flight on Saturday June 9th so early cab ride. Istanbul airport was very busy. It took a while to get checked in as I was flying coach to Munich on Turkish Air, then to Frankfut and then to Detroit on Lufthansa
We had a medical situation with a passenger near landing time. Two paramedics were first aboard as soon as we landed; I hope the woman was okay, she just did not look good at all. And just like this short super fast trip was over.
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First. Suck it Trebek.
Secondo
Two things:
Because TBB time travels and writes trip reports before he takes trips! Suck it Trebek indeed.
I believe the title should be
Brings back some good memories of our time in IST. I agree that the Blue Mosque photo is one of your best photos 😉 !
For those who may remember, I am happy to report that the strike that was looming for my family has been averted. After nearly 12 months of fruitless, time-wasting negotiations, once the U realized the faculty and academic professionals were indeed serious about striking, they finally started bargaining in good faith. Hot to settle before students would start asking for spring term refunds, they settled at 5:23AM after a day of 20 hours of non-stop bargaining.
“Every gal in Constantinople
lives in Istanbul not Constantinople”
That’s nobody’s business but the Turks.
Fixed the time travel mixup as I posted very late at night here after having what was probably the best meal I ever had with Mrs. TBB at the Ko restaurant in the Fairmont Kea Lani. We are leaving paradise this morning making to San Jose via Honolulu. Then rental car back to the Hampton Inn Alameda at Oakland Airport. Then we will visit San Fransisco all day on Saturday I think.
You would not believe what crap I went through with fellow Greeks for not calling Istanbul by its real name. There is a famous saying we have “After many years, it will be ours again” 🙂
Cherry blossom festival is going on in SF-Japantown this weekend. It would be a fun event to check out and grab lunch at if the weather holds.
@TBB what to know why you did not like the best western??? As for being in sultanahmet there are no shortage of good 3-4* independent hotels. I never see the point to stay at corporate hotels in these setting when a good independent hotel is available and usually cheaper.
Though giving you are esteemed Blogger I am disappointed that you did not review the Four Seasons Sultanahmet and all the benefits you receive by using your American Express Platinum Card.
Best Western room was tiny. So tiny that there was hardly any room to use my laptop! Service was, well, Best Western like. Breakfast was also very subpar. Location was great. I had a pretty good rate, I was alone so it was fine. Would I use this hotel again? No. Just a forgettable stay. Bed was also not the greatest either. With so many hotels in the area I could have done better I think.
This trip to Maui just went by too fast!
In the picture above there was a medical situation inflight, were the Flight Attendants able to help the passenger or were they too busy cleaning the toilets in case Matt of Lucky were onboard.
For you, Ramsey:
Forget Dollar Shave Club; Buy the Same High Quality Razors for a Third of the Price
I do this.
Thanx H3 I’ll check it out!
In the picture above there was a medical situation inflight, were the Flight Attendants able to help the passenger or were they too busy cleaning the toilets in case Matt of Lucky were onboard.
Hey, George! Will you be making an appearance at the chicago seminars?
No. I am waiting for a reader question to conveniently answer “Should I go to the Chicago Seminars, FTU, or Mile Madness events?” hehe
I have heard of Turkey fried in grease…
…but someone from Greece in Turkey?!?
I am getting Hungary now…
I guess it’s now official…AMEX dropping many bloggers. Expect LOT less ridiculous posts pumping Amex cards. And expect many to go back to their cubicles. Of course they will say that content will not change lol. Expect the Barclays Arrival to become the equivalent of the Amex Platinum product to pimp away.
I am back at the Hampton Inn Alameda, up early to check in for Southwest 6 am flights Sunday morning. I will let them sleep in. We have all day. Japan town cherry blossom festival sounds good. I drove from SJC with a Ford Fusion from Budget. Upgraded to a suite this time.
Uh oh TBB, don’t get your hopes up too much. Someone asked Gary about Amex dropping some bloggers and here was his response. Sounds like this may only be a temporary reprieve. Or am I reading too much in here?
http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthewing/2014/04/11/whats-mind/comment-page-2/#comment-1209688
Thanks for bringing that to my attention. The non transparency involved in this affiliate credit card marketing business is mind boggling. I will certainly miss all the crap swag Delta Points could afford to give away 🙂
Hilarious. Rene/DP begging for nimrods to use his Delta Amex links one last time. Admits he will have to spend more time on a real job now (and already cutting back his pimping).
I can only hope Chase is next. Then we’ll see how many of these pimps are truly doing it for “friends and family” as they piously claim.
When DP lost the Chase links the pro Ink cc pumps virtually stopped. Now we are told that blog content will not change. LOL. Expect much less amex cc pump posts and more Barclays Arrival pump posts. You can take that to the bank (pun intended)
Nice report — I would love to visit Istanbul someday! BTW, looks like Amex is cracking down on affiliates. One of the esteemed BA bloggers on your ignore list is having his Amex links pulled.
Yep, been all over this. Gave hints about this coming…now it’s official
Well, it appears as though American Express has dropped my weblog as well.
After about 45 minutes of crying while down on my knees screaming “Why? Why? WHY?!?”, I then realized that I never was affiliated with American Express in the first place and that the world is not coming to an end after all.
Wow — I feel so much better now…
amazing place…
FWIW…you can take pictures inside Dolmabahçe Palace, but you have to buy a special camera license at the gate, which is like 10-20 euro. I have been 3-4 times (alone and with groups) and taken pictures each visit. IMHO it is possibly one of the best palaces in Europe from an opulence perspective – the crystal staircase, the 2 and 4-ton crystal chandeliers – while walking around I am thinking “it was good to be a king…er…sultan”. If you ever get a chance to visit again, drop me an e-mail and I can give you some good tips. I have cumulatively spent about 40 weeks of my life in Istanbul on business trips and it is one of my favorite cities in Europe. The best time to go, in my opinion, is May because the temps are warm but not typically hot and all the flowers, trees, etc. are blooming making for some very photogenic pictures. Second best choices would be late June (when many of the summer nightclub/restaurant locations on the Bosphorus open up) or September. July and August are usually very hot (although in July there is a jazz festival and you can take the jazz boat up the Bosphorus to the Black Sea…very nice).
I somehow missed that, I would love to take some pics inside the Palace! Loved my visit there, hope to take family back there one day. Thank you.