A week in Istanbul, Turkey

We spent the first week of Spring in Istanbul, Turkey. From the 19 to the 27 we were at the Maywood Hotel which is located in the Seraglio Point area of the city. This point of land is the meeting place for the three bodies of water that are part of Istanbul. The Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus surround tghe point much like the city of San Francisco is surrounded by the Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Our first night was spent walking around the area across the Golden Horn which is called Beyoglu. In order to get there we walked across the bridge and then hike up the hill. We didn't know about the funicular that runs from the bridge up to Tunel Square. We didn't make that mistake again. Beyoglu most recognizable feature is Galata Tower. Takim square is located at the top of the hilly area.

This is the best way to get up the hill, funicular to Tunel Square.

End of the funicular at Tunel Square.

We had dinner at place recommended to us by one of Alex's co-workers, Ozgun, who is from Istanbul.

Our first dinner in Istanbul at Antiochia.

We missed the happy hour but this was a great place to sit and look out at all the people passing by, Pasific Pub.

The small backstreets were crowded on Saturday night which made finding the restaurant a little hard but seeing all the people was worth it. There were as many people sitting outside on the sidewalks as inside.

Nutella can be found everywhere.

Ferry terminal on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Enjoying the sun on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Walking along the waterfront in Asian side of Istanbul.

We took a ferry to the Princes' Islands and got off on Buyukada Island. A buggy ride around the island is a good way to see all of it.

A last look at Buyukada Island before heading back to the city.

Great food in Istanbul!

Thank you is Teshekkur ederim in Turkey.

So much history in Istanbul. Heading up the Bosphorus.

Last stop on the Bosphorus before the Black Sea, Anadolukavagi.

Topkapi Palace main gate.

Ottoman Era condo just outside Topkapi Palace grounds.

Hiking and Bicycling in March

Bratislava to Svaty Jur on Saturday, 6 hours hiking 20 minutes riding back on the bus. We started at the top of the hill behind our apartment, Koliba bus stop, at 10 AM and finished in Svaty Jur.

Some of the trail was paved, some of the trail was muddy and some of the trail was still covered in snow. Alexandra was standing under high voltage transmission lines.

Parts of the trail were full of cyclists.

Top of the ridge. This was just after passing under the high voltage transmission lines. Domestic pigs in the background.

Swine soaking up the sun.

Time to have a break for a gummy bear. Haribo Gummy Bears are made in Bonn, Germany.

The great pyrimid of Solvakia?

Church of Saint George, Svaty Jur.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sv%C3%A4t%C3%BD_Jur

Looking back up the hill toward the church.

You and the neighbor don't have to agree on the color of your building.

Alexandra and I took our bicycles out for the first time in Bratislava on Sunday, down to the river and across on the Old Bridge.

Sculpture of a famous Slovak comedian, Julius Satinsky.

Looking out the window of Cafe Shtoor.

No Parking

Every Monday morning sometime after 8, a number of flatbed trucks with hoists come down the street to move cars parked in the bus stop zone. On some mornings I have seen as many as three trucks lined up to pick up cars that have been left parked illegally.

A traffic police officer will take pictures of the car, the V.I.N., and the location before it gets loaded onto the flatbed and is taken away.

This Volkwagon Golf was photographed and loaded on the truck in a few minutes. Then it was gone. The crew works like a car race pit crew. A three man team is all that it takes for each truck.

Let's go shopping

Somethings are just too good not to take a picture. This was in a shopping center, Kaufland, that I hadn't been to before.

It was the first time that I saw this for sale. You have to pay extra for the worms compared to the Pistolero. There were numerous worms in the bottom of the bottle.

Pistolero, 7.99 a bottle.

Pet toy department at Carrefour.

An advertisement for Rich Prosecco on the side of a historic building near Comenius University. Look it up, Rich Prosecco from Paris Hilton.

Comenius University in Bratislava is where I'm taking Slovak language lessons, Monday and Wednesday nights.







Out for a walk and some shopping, just a 3/4 leather coat with fur collar and pink leather boots. Don't forget the zebra print hand bag and somebody to carry your purchases.

This woman was handing out fliers to Cafe Savoy advertising the lunch specials. Cafe Savoy is located in Old Town, Stare Mesto, in a historic building.

Waiting for the traffic signal to change.

The button and signal, CAKAJTE.

Asian tourists in Old Town.

This is a great way to keep the shopping carts from ending up next to the garbage bins. A half Euro coin releases the chain, return the cart and put the chain back to get the coin back.

Zlava na dnes. The daily deal website has lunch menus for each day of the work week.

Shopping in Tesco.

NOTABENE, the Bratislava street sheet. I see this guy every week a new editon comes out.

Nech sa paci.

We haven't been here yet, but with a name like Chocco Cafe bar it has to be good.