Istanbul city of contrasts
We went on a very budgetary basis, we booked a ticket and a hotel through a well-known website. Before the flight, we passed tests, filled out a health sheet to get a hash code. We flew to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, which is 60 km from our hotel, the hotel was located in the old part of the city near Eminonu Square. (The names are all funny, but this is giza, as my teenage daughter would say).
We went out, bought an Istanbul card and started tying the code. Did not work out. We found the Havabas shuttle bus stop nearby and drove to Taksim Square. It should be noted that this is one of the few ways to get to the city for cash. On the bus, from 10 times we managed to tie the card to the code.
We arrived at the square at midnight, so we had to take a taxi. There was one taxi driver who was very intrusive, he was immediately refused, then the grandfather, who asked us for a navigator, we realized that this was not an option, the third one was cultural, turned on the taximeter and the trip came out only 27 lire.
We found a hotel, we go there and smell the sewerage. We look at each other, but we remember at what price we rented a room and quietly go up to the room. There, the window overlooks the wall of the neighboring building. We agree to relocate for an additional fee. Now a room with two windows to a garment factory, where only men work. We later realized how many gorgeous views they saw when in the morning, once again opening the curtain, we saw the audience prepared in the window opposite.
Day 1. Introductory. Grand Bazaar and Istiklal Street near Taksim Square. We rode the old tram, wandered along the street, went to many shops. Bought perfume, sweets. We went to a cafe and tried chorba. I am not a fan of Turkish cuisine, but the girls liked it.
Day 2. Rainbow steps, Bosphorus embankment. Maiden's Tower, travel by boat, as in public transport. The tower is being renovated, but it's very nice to ride a boat for a penny. This is urban transport and the entrance is by istanbulcard.
Dinner on the terrace of our hotel. (The good location of the hotel and the beautiful terrace brightened up our stay). In duty free, the girls took peppercorns, and even a liter (for a promotion). When the Turks from the servants saw it on our table, excursion tours began to our roof. Either they bring bread, or they bring cherries, and they themselves grin. I don’t know, but I guess that they liked it so much, but we sleep after the meal.
Day 3. Cathedrals, mosques. The Blue Mosque, admission is free, very publicized, but the view from the outside, by the fountain, is much more interesting than the emptiness inside. A couple of Muslims pray and that's it.
But opposite the Hagia Sophia (now a mosque), it's just a grandiose building, atmospheric inside, prayed for centuries. There are a lot of Muslims, but this is a Christian church, whatever one may say. It is good that the frescoes with icons on the balconies were not washed. Even the guides regret that they covered the floors with carpets. I highly recommend visiting.
In the evening we decided to take a walk to the Gata fortress across the Galata bridge. Lots of fishermen catching some small fish. We took a couple of photos and went to look for the tower.
Here it must be said that Istanbul is located on the hills and often had to go down, then go up. My watch gave me medals every day for achievements that I hadn't done in hiking with a car in a long time. While the clock was in shock, the legs were in quiet hysterics. But I diligently conquered all the peaks. We reached the tower and I refused to go up, imagining the number of steps, but in vain, there is an elevator !! ! My girls went, and I went to a cafe. (A couple of kilograms of live weight still brought). The girls really liked it. This is the only object, other than the transport, where the hash code was requested several times.
Then we were carried away looking for a bridge that lights up in all Turkish TV series. We found it, beautiful from afar, but it was late and we stomped home to sleep.
Day 4. Harems. Turkish barn. The first one we decided to make happy with our visit is the old harem of the Sultan, which is in the old city of Sultanahmet. We went in, walked around the park, went to the cash register and were a little, to put it mildly, surprised by the price. Against the backdrop of the general cheapness, there were European prices here, 30 euros seems to be not so expensive, but is it worth it to look at the bed and shards ? ! An inner voice whispered to leave and we decided to go to the last palace of the Dolmabahce harem. I really liked the pompous, gorgeous views of the Bosphorus, and the Sultan's hammam made an indelible impression. Photos like from a magazine.
We were in a cafe overlooking the Bosphorus, it's beautiful, but ours was no worse from the terrace. Ate pizza, tea and coffee. The price tag, like in our cafe, is not very expensive, but not very tasty either. I must say that there are many such cafes near Eminonu Square, you just need to climb up.
Then we were looking for a funicular and did not even imagine that we had already ridden it, in this place it is underground. I had vague doubts why the metro was going up, to which my girlfriends said that in other cities as well, I agreed, but it was still a funicular.
On the last day we went to the promenade to the mosques, to look at the night view. Very beautiful. I don’t remember how I got home, but there was still shopping, and we only had 4 hours for it, but in vain...
Day 5. Shopping. Need to know where to go. There are boutiques where prices are 50% lower than ours. Polo also had a 30% sale. I would have bought everything there, but it was 20 minutes before check-out from the hotel. They took as many as they could. I had to buy more space in my luggage, as hand luggage did not have a chance to hold 22 kg for two of our purchases. And they didn't buy anything. Do not forget to take a check for taxis to arrange later at the airport. There are taxis in Sabiha.
P. S. When we were driving, my husband let me go with the words, be careful. He always thinks I'll be kidnapped and married obscenely. Yes, they won’t even take me to the organs, I won’t fit. A lot of police and cars, no drunks. There are a lot of people in tourist places, but we tried not to walk in the dark. The attitude towards women is wonderful. We went to cafes, because they looked at us as if they were a curiosity, they never fed women there. Who giggled, who frankly showed disdain, someone was interested... this is their mentality and we turned a blind eye to it. The prices are fabulous for everything from medicines to lunch. We spent 120 euros without shopping, this is with souvenirs and excursions. Istanbul is wonderful. Who loves the "beach-pie" format will not work. Come and see with your own eyes.
