Istanbul!

C: So we arrived in Istanbul safe and sound. Hurrah! Although the jumps for joy subsided slightly when we met up with our homestay host. O--- means well, but... well, our room has a funny smell (bad), although it does have mesh on the windows (see? It keeps the spiders and snakes out!) (good), his wife is a sweetheart and lovely to boil eggs for us (good) but has terrifying dolls (bad). So all in all the 'Homestay' option wasn't the wisest.

D: I give you the best room in the house...best room (!)






C: But despite that bit of non-airconditioned weirdness, Istanbul is amazing, absolutely gorgeous.

The first touristy thing we did (aside from stuffing ourselves full of Turkish coffee, Baklava etc) was visit the 6th century Basilica cistern. We didn't know what to expect, but as you head down into the cool marble chamber right under the city the non-hot is impressive enough, let alone this amazingness:

D: You arree my cistern... and III luurve youu..



C: For some reason (no, really, they don't know), two of the columns are supported by the heads of our favourite Gorgon, Medusa.





D: NO!
Cheep skate Italians were stealing money from the Medusa wishing pond... but they got turned into scones





C: Next up, Hagia Sofia. This was the Cathedral of Constantinople until 1453, then it was converted into a Mosque. What's interesting is that it still has gorgeous Christian murals.

D: et lux in tenebris lucet, et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt












D: NICE LIGHTING! Copperart be DAMNED!!