We have finally arrived after what feels like days of travel, getting good at catching bits of sleep sitting up though.

It was reasonably cool in Istanbul today 21 degrees when we arrived so very pleasant, could even have put a jersey on tonight.

The city is very green with heaps of parks and trees around, the amount of threes on the waterfront in the new part of the city is astounding.

Our hotel is lovely and is within a 5 minute walk from the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazzar is only a 2 minute walk!! Although, sadly it is closed tomorrow.

Had a walk around this evening and came across a local artisan market, amazing stuff all hand made and several of them were doing demonstrations of marbling, wood carving, calligraphy, embroidery, wool felt, jewellery.

We were hounded a bit to eat at several different places, had a lovely dinner of a Meze platter, yum.

We tucked up in bed early tonight, try to keep ahead of the jet lag.