TOPKAPI PALACE AND THE HAREM

Oh well - haven't uploaded the photos of the blue mosque yet so they are missing temporarily from our Istaanbul blog but will get done.
We saw so much that was wonderful and had no time or possibility of using the internet! It was difficult!

The deal is that I upload the photos having photoshopped them and John adds comments but the process is slow and I comment while they upload - sometimes.
Tonight we are in a Greek internet cafe in Ali PASHA'S OLD FORTRESSS TOWN DRINKING EXPENSIVE DRINKS AND EATING MEZES FOR SUPPER WHILE WE SPEND HOURS DOING THIS - hope you love us for doing it. The capitals were a mistake as I reached for a crisp!

OLD ISTANBUL

We boobed - badly - shouldn't admit it really as we don't have to online - but - we went to the souk on Sunday - and it was closed! Ever heard of a souk that is closed! More to come . . .

TURKISH BLACK SEA COAST AT AKCACOCA AND TURKISH HOSPITALITY AND GOOD FOOD

Thanks to Hurriyet who invited us to listen to Yasim sing and play the oudh. We had a truly memorable evening and loved the music - hope you can listen to a snatch of it here! Click on the arrows under the pictures and they will play!



The pictures show us at the Gurme Et Balik (Gourmet Meat and Fish) Restaurant where we camped for the night and ate a delectable supper as well. It was an interesting place as it was somewhere no European tourists visit.

LONDRA CAMPING ISTANBUL

HATTUSAS - THE HITTITE CITY 1300 BC

I hope I can get this right, this time. I have messed up (expletives deleted) my comments on this post three times so far. Here I am standing between the plinthstones (no, not Fred and Irma) of the main doorway to the chief temple of the Hittite Empire at Hattusas. It must have been bloody enormous.





Here are two shots of the triumphal avenue which don't really give much idea of scale. It's about 20 feet wide.





Here I am standing next to the feet - just the feet, remember - of one of the Hittite sphinxes who used to guard the gates. Just think how big the whole creatures would have been!



This is a block of polished green marble given by Rameses II to the Hittite Emperor whose name I'll check. Ruth, I, Rameses II and the Hittite emperor have all touched this block. I bet they'd be proud!





Think really old history - - like before the Israelites in the Bible - well Rameses 2 and Moses maybe! Turkey is all old and new testament .

We are grateful to the Austrian camper in Korchula who advised us about Bogazkale and Hatussas - there is more to come

GOREME IN CAPPADOCIA TWO

Turkey is so rich in history and wonderful landscapes and archeology that we have overloaded the blog - please look - we are asking a lot of you but it is a fabulous place!

FOOTNOTES FROM A HAN IN TURKEY