Our flights to Istanbul were smooth and almost on time.  The food was the best airline food ever.  We were picked up at the airport with no problem and spent the first night in the NAZ Wooden House hotel parts of which dated back to the 8th century and parts to the Ottoman empire as the house was built around old arches and walls.  www.nazwoodenhouseinn.com is the web address. Railroad tracks behind the hotel were part of the route of the Orient Express.  We saw trains pass but they never woke us during the night and they were withing "spitting distance" as Randal would say.  We heard nothing at all and slept well for about 10 hours after being up for almost 2 days.  I took photos but it will be a while before I get around to formatting and sending them.  Too much to see and do.  "One falls instantly in love with Istanbul."  I’m quoting myself there from my journal that I wrote this evening sitting in the roof terrace drinking tea and watching the sun set over the Sea of Marmara.  We spent the day with Linda and Michael from the boat B’Sheret.  They had arrived Thursday night since their boat had been loaded first and they left Male’ Monday morning but chose to spend a few days in Dubai.  We chose just to come to Istanbul eager for cooler weather.  Cooler weather is what we have.  I wore a turtleneck, a wool sweater, my Sox hoodie sweatshirt and my heavy rain jacket and at times I was chilly especially when Linda and I went to the top of the Galata Tower to take photos.  We also visited the Pera Palas Hotel where Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express.  Unfortunately the room was booked so we couldn’t see it.  For 300 Euros you can spend the night there.  We started our day visiting and touring the Dolmabahce Palace.  It was the home of the last Sultan who bankrupted the government building it.  We made our way back to the Sultanhamet part of the Old City and visited a wonderful book store and met the owner who was really helpful with his suggestiions.  Randal and I returned to our new hotel and are calling it an early night still tired from our travels and busy day.  We had eaten a late lunch of a chicken pita sandwich and it was simple but good.  The food here is wonderful and so far the people friendly and helpful.  Most speak some English but understand enough to point us in the right direction.  This is a rather rambling email and I hope to do better. And also to send photos. 

Now that we have the boat loaded and are here in Istanbul I have time to worry about the Sox.  It’s getting really scary. 

So good night for now.

Ru