Sightseeing in the rain.

There were 24 buses booked to take our group to the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace today.  Now I understand why we are using a hotel so far out of town: the line of buses went entirely around the block.  Twice.

We were on bus number 23 because we were a little late down to breakfast.  Buses left as soon as they were filled so we were amongst the last aboard.  Our guide, Baris (pronounced Baresh) was excellent and will be our guide for tomorrow if we can get ourselves onto the same bus.  Breakfast is at five so there will be NO excuses for being late tomorrow.  The Gallipoli day trip will be a LONG one.

But I digress.  Half of the buses went to the Blue Mosque first and the others went to Topkapi.  Our group went to the Mosque and we arrived just as the heavens opened.  Let me tell you it's no fun queuing for half an hour to get inside with rain trickling down your neck, then being told you have to take off your shoes before you can enter.  Thankfully we were prepared and had plastic bags for our shoes at the ready.  Then, those of us without appropriate head covering had to borrow a head scarf.  I figured my cap didn't quite do the job and borrowed one and Vaughan snapped a photo of me in it.  It's likely to be the only photo of me in this blog, so here it is. 

The interior of the mosque is simply gorgeous. The artistry of the interior's semi, quarter and full domes have to be seen to be believed and we snapped lots of photos as we shuffled around the perimeter. ( We were not allowed under the main dome as we are not Muslim)
 
Once we were reshod, we headed off on foot for the Topkapi Palace - and then the rain really settled in.  By the time we reached the ticket office we were all cold and bedraggled - and frankly all I wanted was a hot drink.  Still, we persevered and once cut loose from our guide, managed to have a look in the confectionery kitchens and the exhibition of manuscripts.  The queues were too long for us to visit the treasury, which was disappointing, as there was a massive diamond on display I would have liked to see.  (See, always a jeweller's daughter at heart.)

We met our guide back at the entrance at the designated time,  then hurried back to the bus as a group, getting aboard - quite literally - as the thunder and lightning started.  The rain poured down so hard, we couldn't see out of the windows.  We'd noticed many ramshackle half derelict houses on the way from the hotel into the city and I wonder if they are inhabited.  They wouldn't do much of a job keeping the rain off and the cold out.

It was at this point we decided that we wouldn't be heading off to the Grand Bazaar after lunch - shuttle bus or no.   We might get to the Spice Bazaar on Friday: embarkation day, but that will be it.  I'm not much of a one for haggling or being accosted to admire rugs/ jewellery I have no intention of buying, so  I'm not too bent out of shape to be missing it today.

This afternoon has actually been quite relaxing.  We met a lovely couple from Sydney over lunch and just chilled with them for a while.  We plan to have a quiet evening too- what with the 6am departure for Gallipoli ahead of us.  The weather forecast looks promising too.