Exploring Istanbul on Wednesday, day ten

Day ten in Istanbul.  Crazy.  Only available because of Frank's work, and I am very grateful to have this opportunity.

I will also be ready to go home.  I am weary.

This morning I stayed on the Asian side for a bit.  I asked at the hotel desk how to find the Nostalgic Tram to Moda (down the coast) and they told me which metro exit to use in Kadikoy.  With a bit of help from strangers on the street, I found the street car tracks and awaited the ride.  

While it was an experience, a big loop through Kadikoy and Moda, it was not much help.  I never felt like we were near the sea, and ended right back where I started.   !!!  And so I began to walk.

I discovered the Istanbul equivalent of the Vancouver sea wall.  Magnificent.

I finally saw red umbrellas above, and walked up the stairs to the cafes about which I had read.

Turkish tea and a pause that refreshed.

I wandered in toward town, and spotted the tram tracks.  Yay.  Took the nostalgic tram, a yellow one this time, back to Kadikoy to the metro station.  (this sweet old man stood up just as I clicked the photo...)

Took the ferry to Eminönü, then took the tram, and got off at the Sirceki stop, hoping to find the train station that used to be the eastern end of the Orient Express.

And there it was!  I walked round and round looking for a sign, but the only sign was that of the restaurant.

I checked on my iphone, and sure enough there is an Orient Express geocache. So I spent about 20 minutes circling to find that.  Score!  It was a magnetic cache, under a drain pipe.  :)  I signed the tiny log rolled up inside.

(Yipes, I need a manicure)

Next I took the tram to Sultanahment, and had lunch at the Pudding Shop, which I read was a part of the 1960's "hippie trail."  

From here I headed to the Basilica Cistern, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the mid 500's AD.  The cistern is 9800 square meters, and has the capacity of 100,000 tons of water storage.  According to the guide book, "Two Medusa heads used as plinths in the southwestern part of the Cistern are masterpieces of sculpture art in the Roman period."

It was refreshingly cool and kind of spooky down there.  There is a small amount of standing water that is full of carp and goldfish, and we walked on wooden bridges.  It was dark, so the photos may not be too clear.

I have been sitting catching up on work email, and blogging and resting at my favorite Dervish Cafe near the Aya Sofya and Blue Mosque.  But I must move on so that I can wander the Spice Market and pick up a few souvenirs before it closes at 7 pm.

I hope to take sunset photos from the Galata bridge, as it is perfectly clear today.  Frank has to work late, so I will savor my second to last evening in magical Istanbul.

Güle güle!  g