A Day On the Golden Horn

 This last Saturday, after much holiday fun, too many sweets, and two wound up kids cooped up in the house for too long, we had to get out and do something.  It was in the forties but sunny so it was a good day to be outside.  Having earlier decided we needed to start slowly picking away at all the wonderful museums and sights we haven't yet seen in Istanbul, we chose to head for the Golden Horn, an inlet off the Bohsphorus bordered by some old forests, palaces and some of the oldest neighborhoods in Istanbul.  We drove our car to the ferry station, rode a ferry to Europe (the other side of Istanbul :) and then walked down to where we could catch a ferry boat up the Golden Horn.  We journeyed with many tourists but it was a great day for a ferry boat ride and I don't think Aaron or the kids had ever been up that way before so I guess we were tourists too.

 When we reached the end of the inlet we got off with everyone else and headed for the Eyup Sultan Cami (mosque), a very old and well known smaller mosque in Istanbul.  It was built in 1800 and is surrounded by a huge cemetery that meanders up the hill.  Many of the tombstones were so unique and the whole cemetery was well cared for with roses and other hearty flowers springing up from nearly every grave.  I should also mention that the tile work in the courtyard of the mosque was very beautiful.  I really love this kind of traditional Turkish tile. 

 From the Eyup Cami we headed for a cable car ride up the hill to the famous Pierre Loti Cafe, which really does have any amazing view.  The sun was setting by the time we got there and so as we were chilled and ready for a cup of tea.  My previous blog entry shows some shots of that.  

 After warming up a bit we headed out, walking down the hill on a walkway through the cemetery, enjoying the view all the way and listening to the kids having some funny and interesting conversations inspired by being in a cemetery.  We stopped for supper, caught a bus, then a ferry ride and then a walk back to our car and a ride home.  It was a successful day out.  Very fun and relaxing and enough weariness to get the kids asleep fast.