Greetings from Istanbul

Left the hotel early, bussed to Izmir Airport (50 min.) which was a madhouse. I got the last boarding pass and ended up in seat 1C--never sat in the front row before! The flight was less than one hour.  Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents. The older side is in Europe. The newer side is in Asia. They are connected by a bridge and many ferries. (While in Ephesus, we were in Asia. While in Istanbul, we were in Europe.)  After a brief tour, we ate lunch at a restaurant that specializes in Turkish meatballs --delicious.  Then we walked to the huge underground cistern (56 steps down).  It is no longer part of the city water system. In the past it was kept full of water in case the city was under siege.  From there we walked to the Hippedrome --the site of ancient Roman horse races. All that remains are two obelisks.  Then on to the Blue Mosque (built in the 1600s)  and its six minarets. Chuck had on shorts and had to wear a shawl (skirt). I took no pictures so you only have my word for it. It was body to body in the Mosque.  Then we checked into our hotel which is very near the Bosphorous- a narrow very strategic waterway that connects the Mediterranean and Black Sea.  Chuck and I walked along it this evening.  It was wonderfully cool, very breezy, and the water was filled with all kinds and sizes of fishing boats, freighters, evening dinner cruises, big cruise ships, etc.  Tonight we had dinner on the roof top terrace of the hotel.  It was delightfully cool.  We had to wear sweaters!