Istanbul - Chapter 1

Sunday 10:10 pm
Well, we have finished packing everything up and put the suitcases outside the door. In the morning, we just put on the clothes we left out and pack up the morning ‘get ready’ stuff and walk off the ship. Mike and I are ready to come home!
We decided Istanbul was like a teenager….., just enough trouble that you are glad when you finally get rid of the. Really, it is too bad as I am sure this is a fantastic city. We’ve heard a lot about it and of course, there is the history but our day today was just not what we wanted at all. We were ready for the miserable weather and it never did actually rain, so it wasn’t that bad. The problem was our tour and tour guide. He gave us little earphone/receiver sets and struck off saying to follow him and just listen as he ‘guided the tour.’ Two problems with this……, the receiver’s didn’t work so instead of hearing all about what we were seeing, we heard a lot of static and a few intermittent words. The other problem was that he walked so fast that we couldn’t keep up and were constantly straining to keep our eyes on him way ahead of us and didn’t even get to look around. We technically toured the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace but we won’t be bringing home any wonderful memories of either! Which really is a shame. We do have one more chance tomorrow as we have another tour booked which will take us on a cruise of the Bosphorus and also sightseeing of some landmarks. Hope we get a better guide and one who actually talks to us instead of using the little radio thingy. Maybe then, Istanbul will still be like a teenager except now, you are glad they grew up and are your friend! We would like to come home with some good memories of Istanbul, but one way or another, we are coming home!
Should be back in KC Tuesday night. This is the hard part of the trip……..It has been great, it has been what we dreamed of for years and totally lived up to the expectations (except Istanbul!)