Unlike the others, this post will entail two chapters. The reasoning behind this novel structured entry is due to the Backpacking Battlers having had two completely different experiences in Istanbul. You will understand as you read on, if you choose.

Relief struck when we arrived to Istanbul from Vienna on the flight we had been almost been scammed on before realising, locking out my travel card and rebooking actual tickets. As I’ve already mentioned, I always tend to have the worst luck with flights. This time we had to wait for a good forty five minutes standing in a cramped bus as some lousy technicians didn’t put in a special seat for a disabled girl in a wheelchair. In the end don’t think she got on the plane.
Get to customs wearing singo’s, short boardies, Nike free runs and I was wearing my hat backwards. The blokes sitting there looked less than impressed. He looked through the Wizard’s passport and told him we had to go buy visas. Was news to us but we did as we were told. Get to the counter the old grumpy Turkish man was sitting behind and he told us we could only pay in cash. He meant euro cash but neglected to tell us this. By this time I had taken off my hat to be a bit more respectful. Eddie went to the wall and pulled out Turkish lira before trying to give it to the man. The Wizard started stressing when cranky pants wouldn’t take it so I went over and grabbed some euros. Got through customs and onto a bus to Taksim Square in Istanbul without so much as a scratch, but with a few skiddies on someone’s undies.

Getting off the bus, I’m going to be honest and tell you that I have never been so nervous in my life. Women walking frantically in burqas amongst thousands upon thousands of Turkish men with only a few tourists scattered about the place. The sun had fallen and we had no clue where our hostel was. Two loud mouthed white blokes walking in circles, hopelessly lost, was like trying to spot a whore in a brothel. Completely on edge and walking down the main street of the new town, the Battlers found their hostel and were greeted by some fat bloke. Didn’t like where we were staying so moved into the old town to a place called Bahaus Hostel. This place was trendy and close to a lot of things. Walked around the old town but didn’t want to see too much as we knew we’d be back to Istanbul after sailing with the Lueckl’s and Hookway’s.

The Battlers visited the Blue Mosque because we needed something to do. You also had to wear long pants and we didn’t want to walk around all day in jeans with the Hookway’s and Lueckl’s just so we could go inside to see it. So we get there right, and the thing is closed for bloody prayer time. So we’re sitting on a park bench in the sun staring at some building called Sofia eating a kebab sweating like a fat person after the plummet of two steps, waiting for the racquet to quieten down. During prayer they blast this music through the speakers so everyone with the vicinity of Europe and Asia can hear it. Sounds like Kanye West singing the intro to The Lion King. After about halfa, we walked into the Blue Mosque. Had to take our shoes off as sign of respect which was fine. Get inside and there was nothing there. Just red carpet, some tiles on the roof which were made into a pretty cool mosaic and people praying. My first thought walking in there was ‘oh my allah this would be the best location for a big game of knee footy’. I took three photos and deleted two of them. There are two discrepancies I have about the Blue Mosque. The first is that the thing isn’t even blue. At least paint it blue if that’s what you’re going to call it. I don’t go around calling an Orange a Red. It’s called an Orange because its colour is orange. The second bone I have to pick is that there needs to be some compromise to people not wearing shoes inside. My first step inside, my nostrils were smashed with a heavy scent of smelly feet. Probably the perfect place to get some kind of foot fungi.

Also had a trip to the Grand Bizarre which is pretty much just Paddy’s Markets on an insane level of drugs. Got lost that many times because every single store there is filled with junk people are trying to flog.

Went to Gallipoli one of the days and if you want to have a read about that, I suggest you scroll down as I’ve done already a separate post about our visit there.

Didn’t do a great deal the next couple of days but just chill and eat at this restaurant we really enjoyed. Was cheap as chips and the food was sick. We went for lunch and dinner both days. The owner recognised this so gave us free apple tea and mint flavoured shisha. Perksy’s first time having a smoke so that was interesting. Was a good cultural experience.

Got pretty crook that last night which wasn’t a whole lot of fun but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Jumped on a plane pretty early to get to Göcek airport to meet up with the Lueckl’s, Hookway’s and Fletch and Michelle for an epic week of sailing.

Opinions of Turkey upon first visit, were grim to start off with but after getting to know the people my thoughts completed changed. Great people who are highly misunderstood