Day One

My day started this morning at 8:30 am (8 hours ahead of CDT) with a trip to the Hippodrome....a place where chariots used to race...a couple of obelisks were added to it, one of which was egyptian...it's been transfered to a beautiful park...


Then we were off to the Blue Mosque in a renewal of the teachings of Muslim. Five prayers a day, everyone SHOULD go to prayer...they recite lines from the Koran and then on their way...It was absolutely spectacular inside, just in awe of it all...

Then a sudden storm was popping up....thunder and lightning unbelievably cracked and then a torrential downpour...I mean torrential...me and another woman ran to the closest spot which was under the blue mosque in the absolution tanks. An absolution tank is where the people saying prayers need to cleanse their face, hands, neck and face before going in for prayer. So we were stuck under there and bonded. Her name is Carola nd here with her husband Michael from Australia. She's a delightful woman, they seem to travel a lot. They are heading to Egypt after the Greece/Athens trip. Been married for 30 years. So, the water level kept getting higher and we headed for higher ground and stood on some seats, and progressively had to move higher....finaly our tour guide in a panic finds us and we flipped him some crap about he's really good watching over us...all in a good laugh and my bonding buddy...one way to get to know people...there are a few other people by themselves as well, so I'm not entirely alone, both of which know the midwest which is a plus. And a family from Canada and one from California.

So took off from our water logged bonding experience on to St. Sophia which is another Greek Orthodox Church converted to a Mosque. It was ok, but much older and under renovation but the mosaics are amazing and I was able to get to the 2nd floor, everything is carved into stone or marble. Then from there we went to the Grand Bazaar. NOw, this was a little overwhelming and I got lost. So, I didn't stay too long as they like to grab you to bring htem into your stores and make you buy. Don't really like that. Might go back tomorrow, but we'll see.

After the Grand Bazaar, I went to the Topaki Palace. It was quite lovely, the home of the sultan who ruled over three continents and the Bosphorous straight. The best part of this tour was the one room that overlooks the Golden Horn and Bosphorous straight. Gorgeous picture.

Now, I have to go to dinner, fish and a show I think.

Istanbul Arrival

It took me longer than anticipated to get into Turkey, missed the plane in the London airport. Note to self and anyone else doing connections through London, you WILL NOT make the next flight if there is an hour between the flights...Spent 8 hours in the London airport, was going to go through London, but thought better of it. FINALLY got on the plane and now have arrived in Istanbul at night...nothing can be seen and missed hte first meeting with the tour group. Will have to catch up with them tomorrow morning.

Molly and Aidan Mommy saw a huge fort/castle! It was SUPER big! Love you more than all the stars in the sky....Chris give them big hugs and kisses from me.

Laters to Day One post...love to all...M

Passport

Yeah! I received my passport today, so now I can legally leave the country...gives me the notion in my head if I get really irritated I can literally leave the country....

Tour Itinerary

At leisure means I get to decide what tour or whatever I want to do when I get there, who knows what I'll find interesting, but will be with the tour....

Day 1, August 5 - Wednesday, Depart from US, travel

Day 2, August 6 - Thursday, Istanbul
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Old City Istanbul
FethiBey Caddesi no 10 0000
Istanbul, Turkey
Telephone: 90 212 4449333
Meeting with tour group at night and drinks at hotel

Day 3, August 7 - Friday, Istanbul sightseeing
Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar
Turkish style dinner at a local restaurant

Day 4, August 8 - Saturday, Istanbul at leisure

Day 5, August 9 - Sunday, Istanbul and later set sail on Sea of Marmara and along the Dardanelles
Hotel: Will be on the ship

Day 6, August 10 - Monday, docking at the island of Mykonos at leisure

Day 7, August 11 - Tuesday, Arrive on the island of Patmos, later dock at the Turkish port of Kusadasi (visit Ephesus)

Day 8, August 12 - Wednesday, docking at the island of Rhodes at leisure

Day 9, August 13 - Thursday, docking at the island of Santorini -Heraklion on the island of Crete

Day 10, August 14 - Friday, Athens - walking tour of Acropolis and Parthenon, Agora, the Royal Palace, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and the stadium built for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896; rest of day at leisure.
Hotel: Metropolitan
385 Syngrou Avenue
17564
Athens, Greece
Telephone: 30 210 9471000

Day 11, August 15 - Saturday, Athens at leisure

Day 12, August 16 - Sunday, return home

Flight Itinerary

Flights etc. so now you know which flights, go here to check on status of flight....no asking me any questions...

Departure:
Departs Cedar Rapids at 4 pm on August 5
Airline: British Airwasy BA5436
Arrives in Chicago, 5:05 pm
Flight duration: 1 hour; time between flights 2 hours

Departs Chicago at 7:15 pm to go to London
Airline: British Airways BA294
Flight duration: 8 hours; time between flights 1 hour
Arrives in London at 10:30 am London time, August 6

Departs London to Istanbul at 10:30 am
Airline: British Airways BA676
Flight duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Arrives in Istanbul at 4:15 Turkey time zone (8 hours ahead of CDT)

Return:

Athens flight at 8:15 am Greece time zone on August 16
Airline: British Airwasy BA631, flight duration 4 hours

One hour and 35 minutes between flights

Departs London at 11:45 am London time zone
Airline: Britissh Airways BA295
Flight duration: 8 hours and 25 minutes arriving in Chicago at 2:10 pm

Departs Chicago at 4:45 pm and arriving in CR at 5:45 pm, and I'm home.

Vacation Dates

Melanie will be on vacation August 5 thru August 16, returning home August 16 by 17:45 CDT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.