Marilyn and Dick come to Istanbul

Marilyn, David's cousin, and her husband, Dick, arrived on Friday evening – our first guests! We gave them no respite, as on Saturday morning we rushed to catch the ferry to Eminönü. The old city really is a wonderful sight as seen from an approaching ferry. We pointed out the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya and the Topkapi Palace, clearly seen as they rise above the other buildings. Once on land we walked around Sultanahmet and through the courtyard of the Blue Mosque (closed for prayer) and past Aya Sofya to the Yerebatan Cisterna, then stopped for lunch before moving on to the Grand Bazaar. This latter is mainly for the tourists, but we carried on through the bazaar and downhill through the streets to the Golden Horn. We were swept along by the mass of humanity as we browsed the shops where the Turkish people shop.

Dick and Marilyn look at Medusa's head in The Sisterna.

We had intended to go on across the Golden Horn and take the Tunnel to Istiklal, but that would have been too exhausting, so we saved that for another day. Istanbul is such an exciting city and everyone we met was very kind. It was such a fun day! That evening we returned to Bagdad Street and dined out in Café Cadde, just across the road from where we live. There we were well looked after by our favourite waiter, Hakan.

On Sunday, we took the ferry to Beşiktaş, where we caught another ferry to Anadolu Kavağı, a pretty fishing village on the Asiatic side of the northern end of the Bosphorus leading out into the Black Sea. High above the village are the ruins of Anadolu Kavağı Kalesi, a medieval castle that was first built by the Byzantines, it was restored and reinforced by the Genoese in 1350, and later by the Ottomans.

After eating a delicious fish lunch, David, Marilyn and Dick climbed the hill to the Genoese Castle while I went to find a taxi to ride up – they were very grateful for the ride down!

Dick and Marilyn by the entrance to the Black Sea.