An overnight train with an animated train conductor, 6am Coca Cola, some strange stuffed pastry and second hand smoke escorted us on our journey to Istanbul.

Fırst views of Istanbul as we took the ferry across from the train station.

Our tour basically wrapped up in Cappadocia. We travelled via public bus to Ankara and then took the overnight train to Istanbul.
I think that after the fantastic train in Egypt, our standards were a little too high for Turkey. The train conductor was very upset that I as a woman was staying in a cabin where there could possibly be 2 more male passengers joining us. Shawn and I kept telling him that it was ok, that I was not uncomfortable, but he was a very traditional man. He basically gave up trying to make me move into another cabin, but he kept popping by to yell at us in Turkish. Of course we did not understand a thing, so he just kept raising his voice. At one point we had even made up our beds and he came in and made us unmake them and move to the top bunk so that if there were any male passengers joining us they would not be able to look down on me. It was all very strange and very frusterating at midnight when I just wanted to sleep! We were joined by 2 more passengers, but they were a couple so the train conductor was a little calmer. In the morning the couple opened up a big bag of some strange pastries and a 2 lıtre of coke and started dishing it out (while chain smoking). They basically handed it to us and forced us to eat and drink. It was very kind of them, but we didnt know how to tell them that we dıdnt have coke for breakfast.
Our first views of Istanbul were from the ferry as we rode across to the mainland. It is a very beautiful city and very European. Shawn and I walked around for a while to try and find a hotel, and we lucked out with a great little place just behind the Haghia Sophia (It is new, not in the guide books: Med Cezır). For the location this place is very reasonable, we are paying around 75 CAD a night. The staff is also great and helped us book a rental car (starting Monday).
We spent the weekend enjoying Istanbul with the thousands of other tourists who arrive by the bus full in seemingly endless droves. We went to the grand bazaar and bartered for a few fake Gucci items, got a few store owners angry with us when we refused to pay their crazy prices, and purchased a new set of clean non travelling clothes (It feels so good to be clean!).
On Sunday we did the tourist thing and visited the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern. By far we enjoyed the Basilica Cistern the best. There were not a lot of tourists visiting, and you get to wander these gorgeus columns to the sounds of classical music.

The rest of the sights are definate must sees, but be prepared to pay for them. In total today we spent 100 CAD getting into the Basilica, the Palace, and the Haghia Sophia (the Mosque was free).
Ouch!
So Monday we are heading off in our little rental car (we have been assured it is easy to get out of the city) and heading to the coast to enjoy the sun and sea! We are meeting up with our friend Erf (who we met in Jordan) and beach hopping until we have to fly home.

Views inside the Basilica Cistern

Outside the Haghia Sophia

Shawn inside the Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia

Laura with the tea man outside the Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque