Kat & Mat's big bike trip
Day 99 Istanbul
Mat and Nick went for a run along the water before breakfast and saw dozens of men swimming in the Bosphorus.
The need to do laundry finally forced us to get some cash out, which was a bit of a struggle with ATMs and money changers. We now have lira, and clean clothes!
We tried to head to the neighbourhoods of Balat and Fener by tram then bus, but the bus was a total fail. One bus wouldn't let us get on and another took us two stops then finished. We were in a bus station but how it all worked was a complete mystery, so we ended up getting a taxi.
Balat and Fener have created tourist attractions by painting colourful things - houses, stairs, walls. Everyone was getting their Insta photos. We visited a couple of nice cafes then headed home (trams all the way, no buses).
On the way back we visited Yeni (new) Mosque - actually from 17th century - and then the Egyptian spice market.
UK friends Karen, Rob and Debbie land in a couple of hours, we can't wait to see them and explore Istanbul with them.
Love, Kat & Mat x
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