Istanbul

[Tolsti]

Tolsti is reaching exhaustion point so has booked 5 nights in the Renaissance Istanbul.

Trouble is now he's done that and planned to sleep for 2 days.. what is he going to do for the other three. Apart from the Blue Mosque and a good Hamman... do any of you jet setters have any original interesting suggestions? I don't suffer Tourists gladly so prefer more authentic local ideas.

All sugestions gratefully rec'd...... Oh, and by the way I am flying Austrian via Vienna... comments?

[flapsforty]

Tolsti, odd, reading this as I come in from a nightstop IST! :)
You could have picked worse; Istanbul is wonderful.
This (http://www.mccullagh.org/image/d30-33/underground-cistern-istanbul-1.html) place is my personal all time favourite, even if it's touristy.
It's impressive, gorgeous, unusual, thought provoking, historical and just bl##dy amazing!
Have a great time in Istanbul.

PS: Local people very pleasant. Easy talkers, often kind hearted and willing to share thir love of the city with foreigners.

[Jordan D]

My parents went there in Oct 2001, so it was apparently very nice and un-touristy due to being a Muslim country so soon after Sept 11th.

Their top tips:
1. Blue Mosque
2. Agya (sp) Sofia
3. Grand Baazzar
4. Enjoy the local food.

Sorry about the poor spelling.

Jordan

[Lance Murdoch]

Spend a day at the Topkapi Palace (where the Sultan used to live)

Take the ferry across the Bosphorus.

Great place Istanbul, friendly people lots of history, hope you have fun.:O