Day Two Part One

Just back to the hotel after another hot and great day in Istanbul.  It is fun to SEE what I read about, noted and put on the to do list.  It is 6:30 pm and a bath is running. I am hot and sweaty and my foot is screaming, so I came back early to chill.   No matter how well you plan, there is simply a whole lot of walking here.  Overall my foot is doing well for being newly out of the boot!  And I am proud to say that I managed the metro, and the ferry on my own after expert coaching from Guzin yesterday.

I just uploaded 203 photos (plus 240 yesterday) and will try again to post some to the blog.  The evening will be spent blogging and journaling - Frank is out with coworkers.  I had fish that was only hours out of the Golden Horn for dinner - under the Galata Bridge.  I had read about these sandwiches - Balik Elmek.  For a mere 6 TL (1.8 TL = $1 currently) you have fresh fish on a slab of bread with onions and lettuce.  Quite amazing.  Me and a few million others had them for dinner.  (My first bread since 12/11/12 - but only ate a few bites of it, and now am back to GF)

Crowds crowds and more crowds.  Everywhere I turn there are people.  But most are friendly and helpful, and today I made some friends.  Everywhere I sat, others joined me at the table.  One family from Saudi Arabia on the Hop On Hop Off bus adopted me for a few hours.  They had an adorable 8 year old boy who was enamored with the woman from America.  I used my "Point to it" book with him and taught him English words while he tried to teach me Arabic.  Ha.

Well, I was going to end with a few scenery shots, but I have reached the data capacity for 24 hours.  Grrrrrr.  Guess I will be finding an internet cafe somewhere...  This blog is something I do for me - to remember the details.  If others enjoy it, that's a bonus.  Anyhow... I will find internet SOMEWHERE in Istanbul.  After a good long soak.

All is very well.  I love Istanbul.  Ciao for now.