Singinalot's 2023 Land Trip to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Rome, Amalfi Coast, & Florence

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, majmaj4 said:

Do you know if you can book the Mansions spa if you are not staying there?

yes! you can! Absolutely worth it.

 

https://instagram.com/sarnicnavitasspa?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Ozark_Kid]

20 hours ago, singinalot said:

 

 

oh good I’m so glad!!! 

I hate that it for some reason doesn’t let everyone see them. Back in the days I used to have my travel camera and used my laptop to upload everything but with only using my phone now it leaves a gap in digital experience 😞

Some can not view them because they are in .mov .  If you converted them to .mp4 all should be able to see them.  When I view this thread on my android phone I can't view them so I later come back and view them on my MacBook Pro.

[Guest]

Turkish currency is a lira which equates to about 27 lira per USD.  We paid 260 lira for both of us for the 1.5-2 hour tour. I say 1.5-2 hour because it's listed as 1.5 hours, but when it's all said and done it's about 2 hours.  That's $9USD for 2 people up and down the Bosphorus....I mean...YES!

 

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Bosphorus/turyol.html

 

This tour was 100% worth it and a major highlight of our trip. Be sure to sit on the left side of the boat and UPSTAIRS! The boats leave on the hour. We got there at about 2:30 so early enough to board and get good seats.

 

A map I found online of the ferry ports:

facing the start of the Galatea bridge from our seat on the ferry 

 

a good view of the Galatea Bridge…here you can see the two level split with the restaurants on the bottom

 

 

 

here we are passing the Galata cruise port. 🙂

 

 

 

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by singinalot

[Guest]

 

Dulmabahce Palace

built in the 1800s

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmabahçe_Palace

 

 

 

this video shows just how expansive it is

 

 

 

 

[sgarde67]

Loving your review! Have you used the trams yet? We’re there soon and trying to get our heads round how it works!

[Guest]

1 hour ago, sgarde67 said:

Loving your review! Have you used the trams yet? We’re there soon and trying to get our heads round how it works!

 

thank you so much! we didn’t use the trams, but did get the Istanbulkart which gives access to the ferries and trams. Stay tuned for that process!

[Guest]

Again, when leaving from Eminonu, sit on the left side of the boat. They stay close to the shore and you are able to see so much. I kept google maps pulled up on my phone so that I could see what each thing was that we passed.

 

We passed by Ciragan Palace which is now a Kempinski hotel…umm…anyone want to fund my future stay????

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Çırağan_Palace

 

 

 

 

The people in the middle never got up to take pics or anything and I often wondered if they were just locals killing time. LOL. 

 

The Ortaköy Mosque…I have seen this in a couple of Turkish dramas I have watched.

 

 

i enjoyed reading about the history of it here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortaköy_Mosque

 

 

Edited August 21, 2023 by singinalot

[Guest]

I’d live in one of these townhomes

 

or definitely this $100 million dollar yacht

https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/avanti/

 

my 30 lira fresh squeezed orange juice from the waiter on board was so refreshing. I may have gotten 2.

 

The 30 acre Rumeli fortress can be visited in person https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/rumeli

 

[Guest]

I hope everyone’s still with me 😊

We still have our top Istanbul

attraction, Cappadocia, Rome, Amalfi Coast and Florence to come!

 

[#55worktoplay]

Silently enjoying😀

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, #55worktoplay said:

Silently enjoying😀

thank you for following along!

[Guest]

there are so many beautiful buildings to see along the way

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Of course we had to stop for drinks and Haydari, the turkish version of tzatziki, (that’s probably sacrilegious 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for me to describe it that way) on the bridge after the tour.

[NHProud]

@singinalot You probably traveled to Asia on your boat tour . 
 

Your dresses are lovely. 

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, NHProud said:

@singinalot You probably traveled to Asia on your boat tour . 
 

Your dresses are lovely. 

 

thank you so much! we didn’t make it to the Asia side on this boat tour, but stay tuned to see if we eventually make it there! 😉 

[PurpleTraveller]

Oh, thank you so much for showing us your boat cruise. I had vaguely considered a cruise but after seeing how reasonable the cost was and seeing your wonderful photos, a cruise is definitely on the must do list for our Istanbul trip next year. 

 

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip.

[bobmacliberty]

10 hours ago, singinalot said:

We still have our top Istanbul attraction

 

Would that be the Hagia Sophia?  From your pictures, it seems a little like the Eiffel Tower in that you can see it from wherever you are in the city.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Oh, thank you so much for showing us your boat cruise. I had vaguely considered a cruise but after seeing how reasonable the cost was and seeing your wonderful photos, a cruise is definitely on the must do list for our Istanbul trip next year. 

 

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip.

 

 

oh I’m so glad to hear it! it is truly worth doing! One of our top two things in Istanbul.

 

3 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Would that be the Hagia Sophia?  From your pictures, it seems a little like the Eiffel Tower in that you can see it from wherever you are in the city.

 

It’s definitely the beacon!!! We never had a problem finding our way back to the hotel since the Hagia Sophia can be seen from everywhere.

But it is not in our top two favorites. We are on our way there, though, so description to come.

[HBE4]

14 hours ago, #55worktoplay said:

Silently enjoying😀

 

Me too!

[Guest]

The Hagia Sophia Mosque is steeped in history and debate. It began as a mosque, turned into a church, and now back to a mosque. Throughout its years, much of the decor was changed or covered up depending on its current position.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

 

It is free to enter the mosque, but shoes are not allowed and women must be covered up. This is strictly enforced. I had to purchase a 20lira head scarf from the entrance kiosk. 

 

 

 

 

the fountain for ablutions after your visit

 

 

 

It was golden hour and I just loved how the light was hitting everything

 

 

here I am, melting, before we even got inside 

 

 

 

[Guest]

upon entrance, there are several shoe closets to store your shoes. There were signs posted at the door for women to have separate entry, but everyone utilized the same door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the lighting and detail here is remarkable

[Guest]

We did not spend a lot of time here. To be perfectly honest, I was HOT, and I have absolutely no disrespect for their customs, so decided to take my leave. 

 

After Hagia Sophia, we headed back to the hotel (one block away) to shower and change for the evening.

 

Next stop: our favorite adventure in Istanbul.

[Guest]

Every time we had passed the line for entry to the Basilica Cistern, it was long and wrapped around the corner. Evening is the best time!!! We had maybe a 5 minute wait.

Entry was $17USD each at the door.

 

once you enter, you descend down a long staircase…the cold underground air is so refreshing

 

 

the lighting is a photographer’s dream 

 

[Guest]

Ordered by Justinianus I (527-565), Byzantine Emperor, the cistern is called among Turkish people as “Yerebatan Cistern” (the Subterranean Cistern) owing to the marble columns that rise up from the water and seem to be countless. The cistern is also called “the Basilica Cistern” as it is located on a place formerly known as “the Stoa Basilica.”

Built on a 140-meter long and 70-meter wide rectangular space, the spacious cistern covers 9.800 sqm area, in total. The cistern is 9 meter high and has 336 columns with a capacity to store 100 thousand tonnes of water. The cistern is also home to a “tear column” with tear-like decorations and two “Medusa heads” which are considered to be among the masterpieces of the Roman sculpture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

to give you an idea of how close these things are together: