G'bye istanbul....

Had a bit of time to kill before the shuttle to the airport, rather exhausted we got ourselves up onto the terrace of the hostel and sat in the sun. Interesting waiting time, here's what I wrote:

Up on terrace, enchanting how muffled sound diminishes with distance much the way sight does. Waves facing interference indefinately in both cases, vision leaves you outlines and blocks, sound with indistinct tones but a 360 degree idea. I can tell we're on a high terrace halfway down a taller hill - the horns from above, the foghorns from far below, the occasional power tool, gravel crunch, and wafting Turkish plaint from directly in front and behind. Birds chirping a placeless counterpoint, and generator hum occasionally invasive. 

THIS is spring break....

Finally did get our normal spring break experience, a cruise sitting on the top of a little put-put boat, watching the shores pass by, first european then asian, fun to have effortless travel after so much walking. we had walked a very far ways too, we didn't get too very much further in the boat then we had walking. Stop again on the asian side for a quick lunch... Sulep this time as recommended by a turk, and unfortunate that we hadn't discovered it earlier, but apple tea was a worthy drink to form memories around. Back, stop in the turkish bazaar to buy some turkish delight this time, not just samples.... 

Monday

Other things i left out: a botanical garden with bosphorous overlook, going into the blue mosque and sketching, more mosques, etc. Getting tired. Monday dawned clear and lovely... caught a cab up to a famed little mosque with amazingly preserved, and just amazing, byzantine mosaics. I had been regretting not getting to Ravenna to see the mosaics, but i think i'll be ok. Amazingly real and detailed, while remaining real mosaics, not fake-paintings like the popes. Walk back along the river leisurely and lovely, and we caught a boat cruise later.....