Istanbuuul!

12/30 - 1/5

In Istanbul we stayed with Metin and Yasemin, another wonderful Couchsurfing experience. They treated us like family, and assured us we'd always have a home in Istanbul if we were to return. Really, it's hospitality like that that made our stay in Turkey so special. For New Year's Eve a few of their friends came round, we all got very drunk, a few us a little stoned and a good time was had by all. Chilled.

 Blue Mosque is blue.

Old cisterns are one of those places I really love to visit when I can. Ancient man-made caverns are very cool, even more so when artfully lit and featuring obscure carvings that presumably weren't intended to be viewable by anyone. The one in Istanbul checks all these boxes, with giant gorgon heads of unknown origin and function hidden away in the furthest corner.

Istanbul is said to 'span two continents', so every day we'd go sightseeing in Europe, then return to Metin and Yasemin's place in Asia. The Bosphorus river splits the two continents, and ferry trips up the river to the Black Sea are very popular. Tasty fish and sardines that aren't salted were the main highlights

Can you see that electricity cable? I wonder what happens to that in high winds?

What lies in the forbidden zones?

 The Hagia Sophia is more big than beautiful, but it's plenty of both.

 Galata tower is one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks, but it's better viewed from outside than in.

The wall is 4 metres thick at the base, narrowing to 20cm at the top.

 The fearless seagulls were pretty cool.

The entire bridge is lined with fishing rods all day.

Next stop, Greece!