Isfanbul - part 2

Yesterday we went on a full day tour of Istanbul. This was a real kosher one, because the guy at the desk told us to pay the tour guide! after what is the usual Turkish mayhem of organisation, we were on a minibus with lots of Spanish tourists. the guide spoke both english and spanish, so he had a very sore voice from coninuous double translating by the end of the day. It was the way to go tho, cause you got all the inside information about the historical sites, and could ask questions. we went to the Hippodrome (like a ancient staduium) with columns and towers dating back from early days. It was funny because all around you are tourist group parties with their guide, and slimy sellers coming up to you trying to sell you things while you are trying to talk. used no continuously! then on to the Blue Mosque next door, lots of people everywhere, but truly amazing place. very impressive, and they even thought about earthquakestrenghening when building it in the 1600's. a woman checks the ladies to see if you are 'modestly dressed', and gives you a scarf if youre not. I was ok with short sleeved tshirt and leggings. we then went onto some underwater viaduct water holding tank built in 500AD (the Basilica cister) and it was 1 half rugby fields long and wide! very impressive feat of engineering back then. It filtered water from the hills down into it by vieaducts, and then was used to water the city back then. The main idea was to provide water for the city if it was under seige and attacked! pretty clever huh? then we saw some Turkish carpets, 3000 US for a large one! and onto the Grand Bazaar! It thought it was lots of alleyways selling carpets and things, but it was under cover, and huge! a security guy is at the entrance checking out the devious types and then go for it1 I wanted a leather wallet, and had 30 min to find it. Talk about power shop! lots of haggling, you buy, you buy later I found one1 dave was seriously impressed by my focus, no stoppping at the gold, silver , carpet, other leather goods (and there was a lot!)pleased to get out of there, but not as bad as I thought. In the afternoon there was another moshque, spice market and the Sultans Palace. it had been turned into a museum, and we oould go through all the rooms - huge- and see the treasure the various sultans had accumulated. the read mcCoy! my god - all that gold, crystals, diamonds and jewels1 exactly like you see on old movies about the Ottoman empire! really worth it. dave was more interested in the swords and daggers and some very mean killing utensils. those people were quite mean! big day anyway, and then we got dropped off at our hotel two or more streets away! the driver cooulnt be bothered to finding our hotel - so he left it up to us! and guess what? we got lost! tiny alleyways, dodgy people nearly run over by cars and asking people we finally got there!only the start of a panic attack! not bad for me! Today we aere off to start our tour - Gallopoli tonight so more later!