We've been so busy that there hasn't been a moment to post. Finally have a quiet moment to sit down a share...
Weather has been great. Arrived last Saturday about 5pm. Took a chance and selected a small hotel in the historic area in Istanbul recommended as number one on TripAdvisor called Siriki Konak. We selected the largest room as the rates were rather reasonable for that area of town. Room was decorated in old world style..wooden floor, oriental carpets, king size bed, balcony, jacuzzi, separate shower. The room overlooked the park and the harbor and was walking distance to the spice market and the blue mosque and Topeki mosque. Each evening the hotel hosted a tea and recommended tourist sites and day trips. We were delighted with the room, included breakfast, service levels and hotel restaurant. Doug and I can highly recommend the hotel. The hotel has a pool and a turkish bath. It is walking distance to the tram.We left our luggage there as we returned to the hotel for one night prior to boarding the ship.
The next day was an early day for us as we left for 2 nights in Cappadocia. It was almost a fiasco. Our tour guide gave us an itinerary that said "7:30 flight on Turkish air" but no eticket or flight number. When we were left at the airport we asked for the e-ticket. Our driver said "Don't you have it?" Nope. He raced back for it, but we knew we didn't have time to wait for him. We looked at the masses of people and windows and didn't know what to do. After some angst ridden minutes, Doug and I decided I would go through security and ask information what to do. Information looked at me kindly as though I were an idiot and pointed to an empty window where I was asked for my passport and handed my boarding pass. As an American, it was just too easy! Well, we made it and thank goodness as our 2 days were wonderful.
Cappadocia can be done in 1 1/2 days. We arrived at about 10 and it was about an hour to the hotel. We stayed at the Museum Cave hotel, the same one that Brad and Leslie ended up in. It was set up high on a hill. The hotel was scattered with museum pieces and lovely rose gardens and an infinity pool and patio overlooking the unusual moonscape. We toured until 6 and called it a day. We were raring to go at the ungodly hour of 4:45am for balooning the next morning, but unfortunately, it was called off because of high winds. We spent our time in Cappadocia wonderful day hiking on top of cliffs, hiking in underground caves, climbing up into fairy caves, watching lovely turkish rugs being woven and pottery being made and learning about the history of this interesting area. I would definitely recommend it.
We returned to Istanbul Tuesday morning and enjoyed the city Tuesday and Wednesday, before boarding on Wednesday afternoon.
We took the Cooking Class in Bulgaria with Jim and Mary Ellen and Fred and Pat and it was less of a cooking class than a demonstration and lunch. The small town was akin to the Debrovnik experience...a pretty town, without too much there...lots of churches...lots of souvenir junk..
We decided to be adventurous in Roumania and took the 12 hour tour. It included a 6 hour bus ride..3 hours to Bucharest and 3 hours back....with a 5:40am departure. I started to think I was nuts. Doug assured me I was nuts. We struggled to wake up...I carried my pillow to the bus...Doug looked at me wondering what type of 32nd anniversary this was going to be for us. I must tell you...The country itself is very depressed...even the countryside is not beautiful..the sites in the city are neither terribly exciting nor do they look much above the South Bronx - even the areas that housed the finer stores. Nevertheless, the tour was so well done that it was fascinating. It was probably the best Regent tour I have ever been on. There were four buses to Bucharest ... 4 separate tour guides and I understand that all were as excellent as our guide. He spoke (in an entertaining way)for almost the entire 12 hours on subjects from Count Dracula to the health system to the gypsies to the political system...I walked away with a true understanding of Roumania and its people.
While exhausted, we had a great day and arrived a bit after 6pm, and enjoyed an anniversary dinner with Ngaire and Ken, Brad and Leslie and Mary Ellen and Jim then headed off to boogie to the MoTown Show. Tomorrow is Odessa.
We've signed up for the Palaces Tour. I was going back and forth between Ultimate Odessa, which was a 7 1/2 hour tour, but thought another full day might be a bit much and then I couldn't play pooch! I hope it is as good as the one we had today, but can't imagine it can stack up.
Having so much fun on this trip!!
