Istanbul was great. After a 30 minute cab ride from the airport, some confused looking at street signs, and calling the people from whom we were renting the apartment, we found it. It was at the end of Abkiyik Cadessi (pronounced "Abkuhyuk" - Cadessi is just "street"), which is a central avenue in Sultanahmet, the heart of old town Istanbul. There are restaurants lining both sides of the street. One, not right on the street, had this display of lights to entice you up the driveway.
Our first night, we found a nice open-air restaurant and had a delicious meal. Many restaurants in Istanbul have big puffy lavash bread (sometimes it's on display even before anyone is at the table). It puffs up as it bakes, and the steam inside can be extremely hot, as Eero unfortunately found out when he joyfully patted the bread after the waiter brought it to our table. He was a remarkably big kid about his second degree burn and, after a short walk around the block with Alison, was able to enjoy the great meal and a great night.
The next day, we set out to see the general neighborhood.
The first thing you notice everywhere are rug stores. Despite what we had read, the shopkeepers are not aggressive, although they are outgoing. At this store, which we walked by daily, this woman was tying a rug herself.
Our other goal for the day was to visit the Basilica Cistern, a huge underground cistern near the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. It dates back to the 6th century, and is fantastic inside - gorgeous to look at and beautifully cool, given the weather outside.
There are fish living in the water, which the kids found very interesting.
Inside the Cistern, two of the columns rest on medusa heads, and they are the big tourist attraction. One of them is upside down now, and this one is on its side.
The water is very still, and there are some great reflections.
