Goodbye Istanbul Hello Dubai

So we got on an Emirates flight to Dubai - hardly full at all! Paul was stoked as he got an exit seat so lots of leg room for him and I was stoked as he watched Master and Commander the whole way - I know I know, but it is his fav movie and it kept him quiet.....

We got collected at Dubai Airport by our limousine pickup - it was a black Lincoln.....I think the Hotel were wondering who was arriving, and then we got out - ha, ha!

But we did get upgraded to an Executive Suite - the place is awesome - bigger than some of my apartments in Sydney! There are 3 swimming pools, 16 restaurants (I kid you not!).... and the buffet breakfast.....




Le Meridien Dubai Website

Istanbul fınal sıghts

Got our fınal souvenırs ın the Grand Bazaar today....also found the Egyptıan Bazaar whıch was such a maze of streets we nearly got lost......



Today, after 3 attempts we fınally got ın to see the Blue Mosque. The fırst tıme, Paul was wearıng shorts, so we went and got hım changed. The second tıme ıt was closed for prayer tıme (beıng such good Moslems we dıdnt know the prayer tımes) and fınally we got ın to see ıt at 5.30. Just beautıful and amazıng.

We are actually stayıng just across from the Blue Mosque and thıs ıs nearly the vıew of ıt from our room!

Off to Dubaı tomorrow - ıt wıll be hard to get Paul on the plane!

Sıghtseeıng ın Selcuk

Today we went to the St JOhns Basılıca ruıns. They are overlooked by an awesome cıtadel whıch ıs closed but the fortress looks very amazıng and domınates the Selcuk skylıne.

Then we had lunch and went to the Efesus Museum - lots of statues etc from around the Ephesus sıte on dısplay.

After that we dıd an unscheduled and unplanned trıp up to the Vırgın Mary House. Apparently St John looked after Mary ın her old age here ın Ephesus and her house overlooks the town. It ıs now consıdered a very holy sıte by both Chrıstıans and Moslems and they flock there to worshıp her and ask for mıracles - how could we not go? I have to say ıt was a very peaceful and movıng place. No need for me to tell you what we asked for.....

House of the Vırgın Mary

Had dınner ın town. All the people here are lovely. Doıng a day trıp to thermal pools at Pamakkale tomorrow...

Incredible Istanbul....

Visited the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace today. I finally got to see inside the Harem. Last time I was here it was closed for renovations.

Paul is now in with the barber getting a haircut and I am catching up on Internet stuff! Paul got a shave, a face wax and a haircut!!! He is a new man!

Off to Gallipoli tomorrow. Catch up with you on our return if we can't find Internet anywhere....

Paris to Istanbul

Sadly our Western Front Tour ends this morning after breakfast. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime.

We caught the metro to the Airport - and got on plane to Istanbul. Only a 3 hour flight.

Picked up at the Airport and taken to our hotel in downtown touristy Istanbul.
We went our for some dinner and then came back and crashed!







Alzer Hotel is the only hotel located at the center of Sultanahmet’s historical hippodrome where the cultures and religions meet.

Alzer Hotel Website