There are cats everywhere! Lean, but not malnourished cats that I've been told by more than one person are part of a large population of strays throughout the city.
Today after breakfast I walked around the Old City for about four hours. I pretty much knew where I was until I went along with the first of five young men who approached me about looking at Turkish (emphatically not Persian) rugs at his uncle's business. (It was always an uncle.) I'll write more on the rug experience later -- let's just say I drank a great deal of apple tea as I cheerfully resisted, over and over again, buying (I mean, investing in) any one of a series of exquisite $10,000 rugs. I knew what to expect from the experience and I knew I wasn't going home with an expensive rug, so I just enjoyed the interplay...but twice was enough for one day and I finally started turning down the offers of tea -- while readily acknowledging that I was being rude for rejecting their hospitality. I was totally lost after leaving the third establishment (without having had even a sip of apple tea), but I managed to find the hotel eventually. I simply and slowly worked my way back up the hill, trying to keep myself between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and asking for directions at every second or third hotel I passed. Not efficient, but effective. I made sure to take a couple of the hotel's business cards once I got back -- next time I'll take a taxi! (Pat said something at dinner that made me realize the address of the hotel is on the room key card. Wished I thought of that!)
Here are some of the sights, which I will label later on. (Unfortunately, no one would let me take a photograph of any of the rugs.)
Outside the Blue Mosque.
The Egyptian Obelisk, once part of the Hippodrome.
(It didn't look as crooked as it does in the photograph.)
There are sections of the old city walls everywhere.
Very, very taken.
This is an entryway to a tram stop.
Along the Kennedy Caddesi along the Sea of Marmara.
There were a handful of men fishing off these large rocks and a few men sunbathing.
More of the city walls along the Sea of Marmara.
No shortage of signage.
There's a wagon wheel pattern just below and to the left of the opening at the top of this
section of the wall. I've seen the same pattern elsewhere on the city walls.
A quiet side street without a taxi or tourist in sight.
The headscarf of each woman matches the color of her husband's (companion's) shirt.
Coincidence?
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