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Weather:
92 - Sunny City: Istanbul, Turkey Hotel: Hyatt
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Transport: Walk - Tram - Ferry
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- Events of the Day
- Started
out with lunch on the pool terrace and walk down to the tram station.
Stop included the Blue Mosque - after passing on an offer by
carpet salesperson to provide guide tips, entered on the Visitor side
and removed shoes (plastic bags are provided for carrying). An
attendant was providing and attaching blue scarfs to visitors with
shorts and bare shoulders (looked like a blue toga party).
Amazing how many non respectful guests couldn't be proactive to
read requirements in advance.
- The
interior was spatially massive and lined with extensive blue mosaic
tiles. Overall the interior color and simple lighting of rods and
light bulbs was not overly striking - great skill in craftsmanship with
finite details lost in the proportions of the building. Exited,
re-shoed, and headed to the Turkish bath..
- Between
the Sophia Museum and Blue Mosque is the Hurrem Sultan Hamami Hamman Turkish bath
with separate men and women entrances located on opposite ends.
Due to their popularity, the hotel had made reservations and we
arrived on time. First step is select one of four main packages
(additional ala cart treatments are available). Package No. 2 was
selected (However, one of us accidentally received package No. 3 with
very strange clay mask).
- Process starts with a nicely wooded cubicle area with electronic
combination lockers to "change" (switch to mutely colored towel).
Next step is the marbled interior cupola room with setting areas
for 10 minutes of steaming (as the star shaped skylights cast a storage
pattern on the floor). Now for the "tenderizing" of scrub,
lather, and rinse on a large slab of heated tile. This was
followed by a rest period and then up to a third floor message chamber
for an oil massage. (Keep in mind that Biblical Esther did this
every day). Final step was water, berry juice, and short nap.
Time to change and step out into the Istanbul heat.
- A few blocks down was dinner - in the Imbat restaurant on the top
of the Orient Express hotel. The outdoor restaurant had views of
the harbor - watching all sizes (from cruise ship and ferries to row
boats) dodging their own ship and waves. Food and service was
outstanding. The view continued to improve with sunset and
severing as we watched the lights on the buildings and bridges turned on
- including the solar powered table lamp.
- Return
to the hotel included a "scenic route" - used the ferry instead of the
tram; however, a few letter variations changed the actual destination.
(Katavoy vs Katabas) The evening ended up including a night boat tour.
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