Istanbul Easter Sunday 8 April 2007

Up early to head down to Eminonu for the Bosphorus ferry trip, an obligatory tour for all Istanbul visitors and, on easter sunday the locals too. Despite arriving an hour before the departure time, the ferry is already crowded but we manage to find a seat on what will be the sunny side but which is freezing until we set off. Someone remarks that they will keep selling tickets until the boat sinks, however eventually we set sail and have a splendid trip under the bridges up towards the Black Sea, stopping at a number of places en route to the Black Sea, passing palaces, mosques, waterside mansions and the Fortress of Europe and Fortress of Asia built at the time of the crusades.

Its a beautiful sunny day and we reach the village of Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian shore at the entrance to the Black Sea in time for lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants which line the shore. It's reminiscent of Lama Island in HK but smarter. After lunch we climb up to the ruined C14 Byzantine Genoese castle high above the village before returning for the cruise back to Istanbul. Drinks are on the roof terrace of the Blue Hotel to watch the sunset behind the Blue Mosque.