Kat & Mat's big bike trip
Day 103 Istanbul
We visited Kariye mosque, an old former Eastern Orthodox church like the Hagia Sophia, with 12th century mosaics and 14th century paintings. It's much smaller but there are many more original decorations visible. We also stopped in at two other very impressive mosques.
As we near the end of our stay, these will be our lasting memories of Istanbul:
- cats everywhere (there's one looking at us right now)
- pushy restaurant and shop owners who shout at you and try to steer you into their business (and always remember Mat for some reason)
- calls to prayer coming from all directions
- endless identical shops selling gold jewellery, baklava, Turkish delight, carpets, spices, kaftans...
- rip off prices and inflated bills
- constant comments about Mat's beautiful hair
- fresh cheese, cucumber, tomatoes and five kinds of olives for breakfast
- novel drinks: salty yogurt ayran, plain or spicy turnip juice, sludgy coffee, sour cherry drink
- always being near to or crossing water
- lots and lots of people fishing
- "comedy" ice cream sellers
- rooftop bars
- feeding seagulls on rooftops as a tourist attraction
- dress up as an Ottoman as a tourist attraction
- covering up and removing shoes to go in mosques
Love, Kat & Mat x
All reports
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026