I arrived in Istanbul just before five and drove straight to my hotel near the historic Sultanahmet quarter. I could have easily kept going, but driving after dark is not great and booking a room is likely to get more difficult as you head away from a city. I am just a few minutes walk from the coast and all I have ‘paid’ is €50 for the night, but no view from the window. Hardly a surprise though. One important factor is that this hotel has a parking garage, which has been harder to find on the trip. I have been using booking.com and turkeytps for this part of the journey.
Istanbul city
 Very smart hotel in a great location. |
 Good rooms at a reasonable price. But probably not this one. |
I found a great little device for visitors who need to get about. Buying an AKBİL (Turkish acronym for “Smart Ticket”) is a good idea if you are in Istanbul for more than a day or two, and intend to use public transport. AKBİL is a small electronic device serving as a ticket which may be used on buses, trams, suburban trains, metro, local ferries, etc. You buzz theAKBİL when you get on the bus or enter the tram/metro platform. The great part for travelers is that you can buy only one and buzz it as many times as there are passengers.
The weather has improved no end and although there are traces of snow as I enter the city, I am happy to hear that it is a balmy 8-10c tomorrow, so may take some time out and look about.
 They sure know how to do Mosques here. |
 The detail in this place is incredible. |
Day 11: The weather is so good today I thought I would stay and have a good look around. There is plenty to research, so I will move on tomorrow and make something of today.
Istanbul is the historical city of Byzantium, which was changed by the Romans when Emperor Constantine made it the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, where it became known as Constantinople.