Köprüsü

Bridge.

Released from childcare and tired after yesterday’s very early start, my sister slept for about 11 hours. Absolutely glorious.

We then set out for a day exploring Istanbul. I remember being enraptured by the atmosphere here on the Galata Bridge back in 2013. Fishers camp out all day to catch their tiddlers and boats ply the waters of the Golden Horn, the major inlet of the Bosphorus Strait. In the distance has to be the entrance to one of the most fascinating areas of any city in the world, containing the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia all within strolling distance of each other. On exiting the bridge pedestrians are met by the grand and imposing New Mosque, the name of which is misleading because it was completed by 1665.

We wandered contentedly around this historic part of the city, drinking coffee, sitting on benches and enjoying the atmosphere, before meandering slowly all the way back to our hotel close to Taksim Square. After a day out walking during which we clocked around twenty kilometres, we ate Turkish delight and baklava in bed.