Costantinople and The Road to Rome

August 8, 2018 (exactly 52 years after I came into this world), and I find myself walking the roads to Rome once again.  This time its the streets of Istanbul for four days and three nights, a slight reprieve from my work in Saudi Arabia, now in its third year.  

Two and half years of work in the Middle East and half because of laziness and half because that's just what you do in the Middle East, I have grown my beard out.

Istanbul is a modern city with sixteen million inhabitants and nearly as many tourists. Fortunately I nailed it by booking a hotel in Fatih, in the old city district of Sultanahme, which just happens to be where everything I needed was.  This is Ayasofya, one of two major mosques and my hotel was right beside it.

This is the world famous blue mosque which is right across the square from Ayasofya.

Shoes off in the blue mosque!

Nearly three years in the Middle East and the habit of smoking shisha has definitely become a daily one, even while visiting Istanbul.

Blue Mosque

Grand Bazaar, only about 15 minutes walk from the Ayasofya and Blue Mosque, and moments on the tram which is super easy to use.

The Blue Mosque dominates the landscape in Fatih.

The Burned Column of Constantinople

One of many tourist attractions, the Basilica Cistern was an ancient Roman water reservoir, only recently discovered below the streets of Istanbul.  I descended into the darkness to discover hundred of Roman columns, two of which used the heads of Medusa as pedestal bases and likely re-used and recycled from some other Roman Project.

One of the pulpits in AyaSofya

The Blue mosque in the back ground, taken from a window of AyaSofya in the foreground.

A ferry where the sea of Marmara meets with the Bosphorus Straight

Istiklal, one of many famous streets in Istanbul, especially for tourists looking for high end name brands.

Istanbul's metro is cheap and easy to navigate.

Narry a day passed that I didn't partake in the use of the water pipe.

Fresh shave and a haircut, ready to return to work  :)

Roasted ears of corn is sold on most street corners for 3 Lyra (75 cents Canadian)

More wandering in the Grand Bazaar

A peak at the Sea of Marmara to the south of Istanbul

Best lentil soup ever!

Traditional apple, blue berry or regular tea is served just about everywhere

About 5 miles to the west of Fatih by tram, I discovered the abandoned Walls of Constantine, the old Roman fortified walls which used to surround Constantinople.

Last day in Istanbul and I spent a great deal of it wandering the Topkapi Palace, former home (1478ish) of The Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer.

I spent some time exploring his harem as well...

My final meal in Istanbul was a traditional Testi Kpap which is a clay pot cooked in a fire with a really nice chicken (or lamb) stew.  MMmmmmm!

Cairo

February 1, 2018
One of the perks of working internationally is my ability to take vacations in exotic locations.  I took advantage of three nights away by flying to Cairo.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:

My day-trip to the pyramids and sphinx were unforgettable. These colossal structures are even bigger when you stand next to them and the 360 degree perspective changes with every change in degree.  The Bad:  I booked my tour with a guide and when she realized that I was an unmarried expat, she had someone bring her daughter to come with us and arranged for us to have dinner. When I politely refused she increased the pressure and I ended up getting out of the car at a busy intersection just to escape).  The Ugly:  Everywhere I went in Cairo, I was surrounded by scam artists and high-pressure hustlers.  There wasn't a street corner, taxi cab or shop that was safe and it got old really quick.  Taxi's from and to the airport were controlled by what seemed like an Egyptian Mafia and both ways, half way to my destination, I was told I had to pay more.  I told them to pull over and let me out but of course they didn't do that and we had serious arguments....

I enjoyed a Nile River Dinner Cruise on a wooden boat. All good; even the belly dancers.

I stayed at the famous landmark hotel The Intercontinental in the old part of town near the banks of the River Nile.  (Typically I enjoy wooden boats in my travels) but having learned what I learned about being hustled so severely in this area, I understand I would have done better to have stayed
on Gezira Island, where the hotels cost more but the tourists are hassled less.