Ancient wonders 15/06/15

[JUSTLOVEIT]

We will probably do our own thing in Istanbul but has anyone been on the organised trips recently and would you recommend?

[Tarquin]

See the replies on a thread I posted last week Urgent: etc.,

 

Our neighbour travelled solo by motorbike to Istanbul last year and showed me pictures of his hotel view, the cruise moorings and some places of interest which he said were all reachable on foot.

 

Maybe somebody else can say but the Golota (?) Tower and Blue Mosque looked a bit of a stretch apart?

[Julessmiles]

See the replies on a thread I posted last week Urgent: etc.,

 

Our neighbour travelled solo by motorbike to Istanbul last year and showed me pictures of his hotel view, the cruise moorings and some places of interest which he said were all reachable on foot.

 

Maybe somebody else can say but the Golota (?) Tower and Blue Mosque looked a bit of a stretch apart?

 

You could easily walk between the Galata Tower & the Blue Mosque. We spent a day in Istanbul once just walking & walking & walking! Once we walked over he Galata Bridge (having been up the Galata Tower - well, well worth a visit!), we then walked over the Galata Bridge - this has to be done too to absorb all the sights, sounds & smells! We then turned right by the fish markers & kept walking, uphill & eventually came to the Sulieymane Mosque - certainly worth a detour - much more beautiful than the Blue Mosque, in lovely surroundings & very quiet unlike the Blue Mosque which is very busy!

 

We then carried on walking & went to the Grand Bazaar & eventually into the area where the Underground Cisterns are (again worth a visit!). All this is very near to the Aghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace etc etc. - just a lovely place to wander around as you won't get time to see it all in one day.

[kruzseeka]

See the replies on a thread I posted last week Urgent: etc.,

 

Our neighbour travelled solo by motorbike to Istanbul last year and showed me pictures of his hotel view, the cruise moorings and some places of interest which he szaid were all reachable on foot.

 

Maybe somebody else can say but the Golota (?) Tower and Blue Mosque looked a bit of a stretch apart?

 

The Galata Tower is on the same side of the water (the Golden Horn) as the port. It's fairly uphill too. I think there's a tram type method of getting up there from the streets further down as it's a steep climb to the base of the Tower. The Blue Mosque and other tourist highlights are on the opposite side of the Galata Bridge. (It's worth walking along part of the lower level of the bridge later in the day when the cafés are open and you will see all the fishing lines from the fishermen on the top layer.)

 

I think we've had three or four visits to Istanbul including two over-nighters and after our first visit we thought we'd 'do' the Galata Bridge but haven't managed it yet. I'm sure it is worth doing but it is a piece away from all the other 'best bits' so have never actually devoted the time to get there yet. Unless you especially want to climb the Tower for the photo shoot I think perhaps you'd spend too much time doing it and missing out on seeing more of the attractions on the tourist side. Just my opinion though.

 

Anyway have a great time - fab city to explore. :)

[kruzseeka]

Just read your reply Jules. We've really confused him now! ;):D:D

Sorry Tarquin!

We also enjoyed the Sulieymane Mosque Jules - as you say so much to see and do in Istanbul - definitely a candidate for a return visit. Perhaps that's the best advice Tarquin - do what appeals most and plan to go back and do the rest another time.

[Julessmiles]

Just read your reply Jules. We've really confused him now! ;):D:D

Sorry Tarquin!

We also enjoyed the Sulieymane Mosque Jules - as you say so much to see and do in Istanbul - definitely a candidate for a return visit. Perhaps that's the best advice Tarquin - do what appeals most and plan to go back and do the rest another time.

 

 

Oh dear!!!

 

This was our 3rd visit when we did the Galata Tower - we saw no sign of any trams to get you there. It really didn't take too long to get there - we were off the ship as soon as it docked to make the most of our day. It is a steep climb but manageable unless you are frail or not a good walker!

 

We loved it - the walk up there was fascinating - winding our way through the streets - ignore any shoe sellers as they will con you; they tried to con us but we wouldn't have it - usual trick is for them to wander in front of you - he dropped his brush so my OH picked it up for him - he then 'offered' to clean our shoes - very insistent - then gave us a sob story then tried to get us to pay an extortionate amount - when we gave him what we felt was more than reasonable he got quite verbally abusive! ( you will get this anywhere in Istanbul, not just that area!). We just walked away from him & kept walking.

 

Anyhow, the views from the Tower are amazing & the toilets were beautiful lol!!

 

Really must make a return visit to a Istanbul - it's my favourite city!

 

Have a fantastic cruise Justloveit - see you are off tomorrow

Edited June 14, 2015 by Julessmiles

[joeholiday2]

Agree about the Sulieymane Mosque, it's lovely and well worth the walk up the hill. It's quieter than the other places so a good place to visit in the afternoon.

 

My tip would be to do the major attractions you want to see first.

We queued before opening time at Hagia Sophia, and queued for about 40 mins to get in the Blue Mosque.

[kruzseeka]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BCnel

 

This is what I was thinking of Jules. We researched getting to the Tower and thought we might use the funicular but in the end didn't do it so I've no idea how useful it is - or not!!!

 

But if you are able to walk, wandering through the streets is interesting and all part of soaking up the vibes of the city. We got thoroughly lost coming from the Sulieymane Mosque (knew if we kept heading downhill we couldn't go far wrong!) but found our ramble really interesting! We went a long way round we later discovered but soon found somewhere we recognised again. All part of the fun!

[JUSTLOVEIT]

Thanks for the replies. We are OK at walking ( hubby is a postie) but we wondered if you would be queuing for ages to get in places particularly as they let the trips off first. We went to Rome on an excursion and got straight into the Colosseum ahead of the 2 hour plus queues. Just don't want to spend all day queuing.

[Tarquin]

 

 

 

ignore any shoe sellers as they will con you; they tried to con us but we wouldn't have it - usual trick is for them to wander in front of you - he dropped his brush so my OH picked it up for him - he then 'offered' to clean our shoes - very insistent - then gave us a sob story then tried to get us to pay an extortionate amount -

 

If he can get a shine on my canvas flip flops i'll pay him an extorionate amount :):D

[kruzseeka]

Thanks for the replies. We are OK at walking ( hubby is a postie) but we wondered if you would be queuing for ages to get in places particularly as they let the trips off first. We went to Rome on an excursion and got straight into the Colosseum ahead of the 2 hour plus queues. Just don't want to spend all day queuing.

 

 

Where you are berthed, you get off as soon as the port authority gives clearance so no bother with excursions getting off first. (Any port which is a tender though you may find excursions are taken off first.) Istanbul you are berthed so free to get off as soon as permission is given.

 

The Topkapi Palace gets crowded. If you want to go round there I'd advise you to get off early and go there first. The Blue Mosque isn't open to tourists during prayers but I don't remember a queue there. The Bazaar is so big it gets busy but I've never been there and it's jammed unlike the Spice market which is always packed. There are often queues for the Hagia Sophia so if you especially wanted to do that one it could be going there would be your best plan. Can you buy tickets on-line for the Hagia Sophia and jump the queues? That might be worth looking into.

[Julessmiles]

No problem at all getting into Galata Tower & Sulieymane Mosque. First time we went, we got to Topkapi Palace early & still had to queue but not for long - advice if you go there; buy tickets to see the Harem & get there first - as we were coming out, hoards of people were going in.

 

Aghia Sophia always seems to have queues. We had no problems getting into the Blue Mosque (apart from avoiding prayer times)

 

There was a queue for the Cisterns but no more than about 20 minutes. Every time we have been, it's has been August so the city is pretty busy but I imagine it's like that a lot of the time.

 

Lovely vibrant, bustling city!

Edited June 14, 2015 by Julessmiles

[Julessmiles]

If he can get a shine on my canvas flip flops i'll pay him an extorionate amount :):D

 

I kid you not - he wanted to clean my son's non-leather sandals & my fit-flops!!!!

[Julessmiles]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BCnel

 

This is what I was thinking of Jules. We researched getting to the Tower and thought we might use the funicular but in the end didn't do it so I've no idea how useful it is - or not!!!

 

But if you are able to walk, wandering through the streets is interesting and all part of soaking up the vibes of the city. We got thoroughly lost coming from the Sulieymane Mosque (knew if we kept heading downhill we couldn't go far wrong!) but found our ramble really interesting! We went a long way round we later discovered but soon found somewhere we recognised again. All part of the fun!

 

Looks interesting Kruz - I really will have to go back soon - more to see!!!

[Tarquin]

I note that over the last 24 hours the Foreign Office has heightened the terrorist threat level for Istanbul. :confused:

 

Difficult to take a view on this. Copenhagen, Paris, Boston have all been subject to attacks in the past year. One of those things that could happen any place any time but we are not entirely comfortable about this situation.

[Julessmiles]

I note that over the last 24 hours the Foreign Office has heightened the terrorist threat level for Istanbul. :confused:

 

Difficult to take a view on this. Copenhagen, Paris, Boston have all been subject to attacks in the past year. One of those things that could happen any place any time but we are not entirely comfortable about this situation.

 

Thomson will not take you anywhere that is not deemed safe - they will re-route the cruise if necessary & will not put the passengers or staff at risk.

[JUSTLOVEIT]

Just read the terrorist alerts in the Sunday express online. Must admit it has taken the shine off the holiday.

[Tarquin]

Just read the terrorist alerts in the Sunday express online. Must admit it has taken the shine off the holiday.

 

On further investigation...

 

Whilst the threat level has been raised you can find the same headlines published several times in different papers over the past couple of years. You can find the same threats for the UK which remains on a 'severe' threat level, one down from the top which is 'critical'.

[gillhalfpint]

Sign of the times I'm afraid. It is a scary world we are living in, and these strikes can happen in any city in any country, ours included.

 

We have to go along with whatever plans we make for our holidays knowing that as has been said, we will not be put at risk.

 

Have a fantastic cruise, even if part of it becomes a mystery tour. We missed Beirut on one last year. These things happen but we still had a fantastic cruise.

[JUSTLOVEIT]

Back from Ancient Wonders and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was very apprehensive of Istanbul and decided to do an escorted tour in the end. We saw some amazing sights and felt safe. Troy was magnificent. Also cruised the Corinth Canal and saw someone bungy jumping! Kusadasi was just nice to walk around and do our own thing including a paddle in the sea. Santorini was lovely and we did our own thing and went up and down in the cable car. The Spirit was OK but suffers from the same juddering as its sister ship the Celebration. Enjoyed the comedian and the shows and most of the game shows. As usual you can't fit everything in. The cabin was OK but the noisy air con drove you mad and there was a smell of diesel most days. Had already booked on the Dream for next May and upgraded to an outside plus as we have done previously. I was disappointed to see that the same cabin is now being offered at no extra charge. I asked Thomson about this and the answer we that they can make any changes they like. Fair enough but it has cost us £180 to do that.