After lunch, we walked around the Bazaar some more thanks to a placemat map from the restaurant we lunched at. We (somewhat) easily found the restaurant we’d originally intended to eat at, and it looked nicer than what we’d had, but that’s how it goes.
The waiter at the cafe we ate at had given us easy directions to the Spice Bazaar, basically, go out “that” door, and follow the streets. Well of course nothing is ever that easy, and after we’d wandered around indoors, we could no longer find “that” door and just wandered out the first one we saw. Using Travis’ sense of direction, we tooled along for a little while not really sure where we were going, but enjoying the scenery nonetheless.

Something didn’t feel right to me, and I got out the map on my phone which told me we were heading nowhere near the right direction. Knowing we’d never find the Spice Bazaar now, we decided on Plan B which was a cruise of the Bosphorus River which separates Asia from Europe. Travis was still convinced the river was the other way, even after I showed him on a map, and luckily he started listening to me and we made it.
I should note that usually we are quite the opposite with him knowing the right way and me questioning it, so I kind of liked this change
The cruise was really awesome and we got to see a lot of the city spread out around us.

We even pulled up to the Asia side. I wanted to get out and wander around, but the boat was out before we even realized what was going on. So, I still haven’t set foot on that continent. Yet.
After traversing under the sixth-longest suspension bridge in the world, we continued on for over an hour and a half, seeing lots of great scenery on the way.

There was even some nice real estate on the river front.

After the cruise we were starting to feel a little tuckered, so I suggested a quick pit stop at the hotel for rest/shower/nap/reading and Travis - to my surprise - agreed. But we didn’t want to retire before trying these nut-like things that we saw street vendors toasting everywhere.

I didn’t think I would like them, but they were really good, and kind of tasted like a potato. On the plane home they passed out hazelnuts, and the packaging had a photo of a smaller version of the same thing, so we think that’s what they must have been.
And then back to the hotel we went. We were both pretty exhausted from the four hours of sleep and enjoyed a solid 20 minutes of sleep before afternoon prayer time started again. Another prayer wake-up call! This proved a good kick in the fanny to get back out on sightseeing duty. I’d now located where the Spice Bazaar was - ON A MAP - so I knew we could get there. And it happened to be right next to the New Mosque, or Yeni Cani, which isn’t really all that new as it was built in the 1500s.
We didn’t go in this mosque because we thought it might be too close to a service, so we just wandered around and took pictures.

The sun was beginning to set and the sky was turning rose colored.

Right next door was the Spice Bazaar. It was SO packed with people, I think it made both of us a little uncomfortable. I snapped this shot to prove we’d been there and we scooted down two aisles and out the side door.

Our plan was to walk back across the Bosphorus to Beyoğlu, or “New” Istanbul, even though it is hundreds of years old. Go figure
On the way, we happened to catch a spectacular sunset.

Once across, we rode the funicular (one of the oldest public transportation lines in the world) to the top of the hill.

It put us out into a really ritzy area with tons of people and shops for what must have been two miles or more. My guidebook recommended a boisterous restaurant where we’d get our fill of Turkish pop-music (gypsy-style) and sing-along crowds. We decided to check it out.
Apparently 6 is a bit early for dinner in Istanbul, as we were quite lonely.

The food was great, and came served in multiple courses. We had hummus and some kind of big giant white bean for appetizers, lots of warm pita bread, a Turkish stew and chicken dish for the main course, and a big plate of fresh fruit for dessert. It was all absolutely FANTASTIC and some of the best food I’ve ever had! We even stretched dinner out until 8, forcing down a complimentary Turkish coffee (I’ve had better sand).

After dinner, we walked along the crowded streets of “New” Istanbul and took another funicular back down to the river.

Our plan was then to go back to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia for some night time pics. This picture was taken from the exact same place as this one.

After a few more pictures, it was back to the hotel. We were in bed before 10:00, completely exhausted.
