Pre Tour

Going early and coming home late is always a good idea. We arrived in Istanbul two evenings before the tour started. The first night we walked around the Hippodrome and ate dinner with a view of the Blue Mosque. The next day we got up refreshed and took a food tour with Istanbul on Food. We sampled many delightful dishes and had a walking tour of Kadikoy, which is on the Asian side of Istanbul. I have a rule that for every trip I take, I eat something that I have never had before and that maybe I don't really want to eat! Below is a photo of kokorec, lamb intestines wrapped around sweetbreads and cooked on a spit. Pretty yummy with peppers and onions! Luke and I weren't the only Rick Steves travelers that wanted to go on a food tour. We met Kim and Al from Halifax. Kim is the one in the plum shirt, hat and sunglasses. That evening, we went to a Hammam, or Turkish bath. Sadly, no pictures.

The next morning, we saw the Basilica Cistern, and wandered around the Grand Bazaar.

TRIP TIP

If at all possible, arrive at your destination at least one day early. Pick an activity that is outdoors and active. This way you have a buffer in case there is a problem with your transatlantic flight, and it will help you recover from jet lag. To find an activity look at the recommendations on the tour page, read your Rick Steves guidebook, look at the "things to do" list on Tripadvisor and watch some YouTube videos.