Blog

Day 2 – 3:30am

17 April 2007 by John Lafferty. No comments
Battlefield Tours, Istanbul, Week 1

Many cities claim to have the title of “The city that never sleeps” and most the time this is not quite true. But I feel Istanbul can make a claim to this title. This was the scene from the hotel at 3:30am. Basically one large traffic jam, consisting primarily of taxis. Not a lot of noise but an amazing sight.

View larger image

Day 1 Photo Summary

17 April 2007 by John Lafferty. No comments
Battlefield Tours, Istanbul, Week 1

The Janissary Band concert outside at the Military Museum

   

Outside the Military Museum

 

It is spring time in Turkey

Afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus

 

  

A view of Istanbul from the hotel

One of the many heritage buildings in Istanbul

The Suleymaniye Mosque

Day 1

15 April 2007 by John Lafferty. No comments
Battlefield Tours, Istanbul, Week 1

The first day of sight seeing takes us to the Bosphorus for a ferry trip. Blue, clear skies made it a perfect day to be outside. Many sights to be seen while on the water between Europe and Asia.

I am collecting the correct names for each of the locations I photograph but I’ll post the photos now and add some titles and descriptions as they are collected.Our visit to the Military Museum was timed so that we could see the Janissary Band perform.

 

Usually this is conducted inside but as the weather was so clear we got to see a rare outdoor performance.

That was all for day one (a half day). We returned to the hotel for an early dinner and some much needed rest. Day two is a busy day, most of it on foot. More photos then.

We arrive in Istanbul

15 April 2007 by John Lafferty. No comments
Battlefield Tours, Istanbul, Week 1

The plane lands on time at 8:40am local time which makes a total journey time of 23 hours for myself and the others who departed from Sydney. It was an uneventful flight with no delays and no rough weather. Some wonderful views of thunder storms as we travelled past India and Iraq. Other sights like the lights of Dubai and cloud formations help pass the time. Anything helps when you are in a seat for 23 hours!

A quick exit from the airport as there were only two passenger aircraft landing this early. We all gathered for the first time in the bus that will be our main transport for the next couple of weeks. On the trip to the hotel we are welcomed by Ashley and introduced to our tour guide. It’s not a long journey from the airport to the hotel but there is still time to learn about the basic layout of Istanbul. There is even time to grab some photos out the window of the bus while travelling along… but then again I’ll always have the camera out looking for photos.

Nothing planned until after lunch which is a great time to settle in and much needed freshen up.

The journey starts

14 April 2007 by John Lafferty. No comments
Battlefield Tours, Week 1

After an 8 hour flight from Sydney we have gathered at Singapore airport. From here it is another 12 hours to Istanbul via Dubai. Five hours of this flight is over the Australian Outback. Amazing views made even better by the long sunset effect as we chase the setting sun.