(Daniel) Gabby & Rowan had to get up early and go to the Iranian Embassy this morning, so I took the chance to get some more of the diary updated.  They came back at about 10.30am and told me that their Visas would be ready for tomorrow morning. We then walked to the Palace Museum which was only a few minutes away from the hotel. 

The Museum was amazing, but I have to say, I was a little perplexed.  I visited the museum about 10 years ago on another trip to Turkey, and was amazed to see artefacts which claimed to be such things as John the Baptists hand, wrapped in gold and still recognizable through a small hatch in the plating.  Also Diamonds as big as a fist, some 70 carats, and other precious gems by the bowlful.  These amazing and priceless artefacts were displayed in poorly lit cases with minimal security.  Given these basic precautions, I had little faith in these items being genuine.  This time however, here were the same items, displayed in much nicer cases, and surrounded by guards, who looked very young and inexperienced.  I still find it hard to believe that John the Baptists Hand is sitting in a room in Istanbul, and even less likely that after 2000 years it still looks so hand-like, with the remains of flesh on the bones.  Perhaps this is a two fingered message to the Christians of the world?  I don't profess to be very knowledgeable on such things, but surely if his hand still exists, shouldn't it be baptising some lucky souls somewhere??  Anyway, I apologise profoundly for my doubts if they are unfounded, but I certainly had my doubts again as we walked out of the Museum today!  

After the Palace, we walked down the street to the amazing Grand Bazaar, an underground shopping precinct hundreds of years old, and spanning a huge area under the cityu, with over 1400 hundred business' crammed into is tiled walkways and arches.  We took lunch there, a Chiken Kebab with Chilli and other herbs, this was and still is one of the best Kebabs which I have had in Turkey, and at only 2 euros, was also the cheapest.  We didn't buy anything, but wandered around for a few hours, taking in the amazing underground streets which have changed very little over the hundreds of years since they were made.

After the Bazaar, we walked back to the hotel for a rest, and then across the river to the posh area of Istanbul near Taksim Square, here the people were very fasionable, and all the modern shops just like any other city in Europe.  We found a great street full of wonderful bars and sat down to a few beers.  After this I decided to have a walk on my own, but ended up lost, and had to go back to the hotel alone.  The others were already there, and were in bed, so I retired also.

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