Day 130 (of our winter away) - Breakfast is on the 8th floor of the hotel, well 9th really because as in Europe, they start with a Ground floor. Because of COVID-precautions, the hotel switched from a buffet breakfast to one which is served. However, although the eggs come as ordered later, one can begin to munch on the numerous cheeses, fruits, meats, chocolate dips, jams, and, of course, olives!
We figured out how to buy tickets through the vending machines at the Şeşhane Station under the plaza near our hotel. It is a direct route over the Metro-only bridge to the European side. Oh, this city is divided into two sections divided by the Bosphorus River. The Galata Tower area, where we're staying, is on the 'Asian' side.
Our main goal of the morning was to go back to visit Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
We went one stop past the Istanbul University and walked to the main entrance. It was nice confirming that the 560-year-old covered market was still there! We last walked through more than thirty years ago, but I guess that's a drop in the bucket of its history. I did see several shops dealing in Bitcoin, so I guess people also are keeping up to date too.
We slowly walked down the slight hill to the area of Sultanahmet. That is the wonderful plaza location where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia stand. We stayed primarily around there during our initial trips in the 1990s. I think we found one hotel where we stayed before but it has a different name in this different era. Our friendly young guys who worked there must be old men now too!
We ate in a restaurant along the Tram 1 tracks. I'm sure these were also here decades ago but everything in the city looks spruced up and more modern and clean. Later, just like last night, we picked up chicken shwarmas near the tower. Unlike last night, the tower was all dressed up in laser light for Saturday night!
