Day 1; Dec.25
- Landed
- Had to pay 15 Euro each for visa
- Driver was late but eventually arrived and drove us to apt. on the Anatolian side, near Galata Tower
Galata Tower - Took 45 minutes b/c it was rush hour, sure glad we were not in a cab.
- Explored local street, Istikal Street, for dinner
Day 2: Dec.26
- Got cash out of ATM
- Bought card for public transportation for 6 TL
- Added 20 TL to it for rides, we could both use one card (added 80 TL more over time, for total of 100 TL or $60 for 10 days, or $30 per person for the 10 days, not bad)
- Took tram over to the European Side where the Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia are located.
- Walked to Bazar
- Back to our side of the by crossing over the Galata bridge.
100’s of fishermen daily on the Galata Bridge! - Toured Galata Tower 12 TL piece and stayed til sunset, great view
Day 3 Dec. 27
- Walked down hill, over bridge to the Spice Market (Egyptian Market) ~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/the-spice-bazaar-and-the-grand-bazaar-of-istanbul/
- Took ferry ride of the Bosporus Sea 10 TL per person for 1.5 hour tour~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/tour-of-the-bosphorus-sea/
Day 4 Dec. 28
- Toured Blue Mosque; free entry; donations accepted~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/blue-mosque-a-beautiful-beautiful-must-see/
known for all the blue tile inside - Toured Cistern; 12 TL per person~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/basilica-cistern-istanbul-turkey/
hard to capture photos in the cistern, - Found shop that makes Turkish boots and got measured for my personal pair and picked out the colors I wanted.
aren’t they beautiful??? 
- Walked down to water through the park under the Palace
- Ate fish sandwich at base of bridge (5 TL /sandwhich)
Day 5 Dec. 29
- Learned that Tram charges for any leg or switch, so best to go direct route
- Went to the Grand Bazar, if we could do it again would not go on weekend; crazy on weekend. Got earrings, pillow case, dancing scarves, and scarf. ~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/the-spice-bazaar-and-the-grand-bazaar-of-istanbul/
Day 6 Dec. 30
- Took tram to end and walked to meet friends of friends, got onto a bus
- Got off bus one town too soon so walked to next town, and had enjoyable visit
- Took cab to Fort and toured there (15 TL)~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/rumelian-fort-or-fortress-on-the-land-of-the-romans/
- 12 TL per person to get in
- Took but 22 back to tram then home from there
Day 7 Dec. 31
- Toured Topkapi Palace 25 TL per person and NO map, really???
- After tour walked to Aqueduct
- Got scammed by a shoe shine guy.
this guy dropped his brush so we thought we were helping by returning it and instead we got scammed and had to pay for a shoe shine! - After this walked to tram and took it home
- Since it was NY Eve we ate in a restaurant not street food, quite yummy
- Took nap and headed out for NY Eve about 11:15
- Taksim Square had well over 100,000 people but quite mellow.
Happy New Year. A mellow celebration with 100,000 others!
Day 8 Jan 1
- Down hill to Kabata with thought of going to Dolmabahce Palace but it was closed
- Decided to do Turkish Bath, 117 TL / per person for bath and massage!
- Off to Aya Sophia, 25 TL per person ~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/hagia-aya-sophia/?preview=true&preview_id=1945&preview_nonce=921b45e8df
- Had anchovies and fish sandwiches at base of bridge!
Day 9 Jan 2
- Dolmabahce Palace 25 TL Palace, 15 TL Harem per person ~ https://timistravels.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/dolmabahce-palace/
- Back to Bazar to pick up music from our vendor friend
- Backtrack through spice market
Day 10 Jan 3
- Found our way to Chora Museum 10 TL per person~
- https://timistravels.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1935&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
- Last walk on bridge, to the spice market, and all around familiar places
- To bed early for 4 a.m. ride to airport that only took 15 minutes in that early of an hour.
timistravels 
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