A 10am arrival into Istanbul doesn't quite have the magic of a dawn arrival or a dusk departure, but it is still an impressive sight. When Paula woke, she really didn't feel well, with a cough and blocked nose but once dosed up, we did head up to the buffet as we approached land. Eating outside in the fresh air was a good move and the ship was berthed on the port side, slotting in just behind the MSC ship, but pushing us further from the actual terminal building. We were nearer the city, but it is a much longer walk to the port gate exit.
The Coldral kicked in, so we elected to walk off the ship. For the first time (that we are aware of), they have turnstiles and your cruise card is scanned in the building and also shown again at the port gate exit.
We'd decided that if we could get a HoHo bus easily, we would do so. The 'Big Bus' was parked just to the left of the exit. Not happy with the €35 fee each (that is a bit steep) but they soon came down to €30 each, but they would only take cash. We paid and were first on this bus so grabbed the upstairs front seats. He assured us we were on the RED route.
At this point, I started to go off this particularly company and it didn't get much better.
What he failed to explain, was that they were hanging around until they had a decent load and they would only shuttle us from stop #3 where we got on, back across the bridge into town and up to stop #1, Sultanahmet Square. That meant we sat around there for about 15 minutes then again at the square, where we had to change to another bus anyway, finally returning to where we started 75 minutes later. Not impressed at all. As far as we were concerned that was 75 minutes totally wasted.
By the time we got to stop #10, the City side of the Galata Bridge and the entrance to the spice market, we'd been on the bus for two and a half hours.
En route though, it was an enjoyable enough drive, including crossing the Bosphorous Bridge into the Asian side of Istanbul and back again. One of the things I noticed in Istanbul, was the sheer number of coaches and minivans (usually white) parked almost everywhere. The number of yellow taxis who seemed to stop and park almost anywhere and death defying motorcyclists were also highly visible.
We got off at stop #10, and strolled into the spice market. Much as I love this place, the prices have rocketed in the last 4 years. Unlike Kusadasi yesterday, nothing was priced in Euros at all. Everything was in Turkish Lira. The prices were also significantly higher than in Kusadasi, so our tip to future cruisers is to do your shopping in Kusadasi.
I asked one stallholder how much the pistachio and grape Turkish delight was, (it was in oblong blocks). He simply beckoned me inside, grabbed a piece with his tongs and once again, I asked how much in Euro. He put the slab into a plastic bag and on the scales and then asked the lady behind the counter for the price in Euro. At €7 it was way overpriced, so we left him to it.
Read any cookery book and they tell you to use fresh spices whenever possible, but judging by the sheer number of stalls, the incredible variety of spices and the lack of obvious sales, I wonder just how fresh it actually is, compared to what we can buy in a sealed packet back home? We know that frozen vegetables are often fresher than what we buy in a supermarket, so maybe the same applies to packet spices?
We only walked half way through the market as by this time, we were getting a bit weary and Paula was ready for an afternoon nod, so we went back, under the road tunnel (which incidentally is a fair place to shop if you like cheap) and on to bust stop #2 on the red route. We just missed one and the next was the Blue route so we eventually got back to the port gates about three and a half hours after we'd left.
The terminal building had a tiny Duty Free shop and the queue to pay was quite long, so we walked past. Our bags were scanned ashore again – which meant no scan on the ship. But, for the first time ever, we were both subjected to a random, quick pat down search (or light massage according to the person who searched Paula!) and then, the inside of my backpack was swabbed, presumably for drugs and/or explosive residue. They wrote down our cabin number and yes, of course we were all clear.
No prizes for guessing that by this time, the Horizon Court buffet was our first stop – and very nice too. Paula has avoided all curries since her tummy upset but I bravely chanced the beef and potato curry – and the Hungarian beef goulash. Excellent. Washed down with the usual lemon squash and finally to the cabin to relax.
The early show was Princess favourite – Maggie Scott, with a good show consisting mainly of singing and piano, including once again, a good boogie-woogie piece and some of her trademark comedy. Her 'Life is Lemon' show is in a day or two's time. We believe that Maggie is in fact in a relationship with a very senior ship's officer - who is quite smitten by all accounts.
Open dining so we opted for the buffet again and weren't disappointed. Some nice pasta, roast chicken and roast pork after a golden beet cream soup with toasted pumpkin seeds. Ces and Kevin joined us for dessert/cheese and biscuits. Kev had joined Maggie on stage for a dance and as one of our better dancers, acquitted himself very well.
Paula wasn't feeling very warm so we headed to deck 5 for a hot chocolate. Very quiet at 10:15pm! Only about four of us in total down there.
ANZAC Cove cruising and an 8:30am service tomorrow, but Paula still coughing and struggling. She is missing her wheatie-bag… If we wake in time, we'll probably go to the service, but we feel it is more relevant to the Kiwis and Aussies and as seating is very limited and as Paula is coughing, it may be better to catch up on sleep instead.
After our day at sea - where no doubt, internet access will be either slow or impossible, it is the popular, picturesque tender port of Santorini.
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