Turkey Trip - Day 3: Blue Mosque and more

Continental breakfast at 8am in the lower level of our hotel. Although much updated, the halls and stairs in this older building were narrow and confusing. It seems like every older building in Istanbul has some kind of spiral staircase that was an after-thought when the building was first constructed.

Quick walk to the Blue Mosque and Sofia Haqqia (25 Turkish Lira entry fee is about $10 US), then lunch at nearby “Cafe Meatball.”

For souvenirs, I spotted a felt doll and bought 3 sets of postcards of 3 different historic sites. After a nap, we figured out how to take the train to the Grand Bazaar where I bought a unique purse. Heading back to the hotel, we spent some time looking for a T-shop for mascara. At one point we realized that many restaurants are rooftop and not easily seen at ground level. We were hungry and thirsty so the Pierre Loti Hotel was our choice for beer and lemonade and a visit from a freeloading pigeon!