Peggy had the entire first day planned out. The main thing that I learned today was to always check at the front desk for assistance. After breakfast we left the hotel and stopped at the ATM to get Turkish Lira. A cab stopped and asked us it we needed a ride. #1 mistake – always ask how much the ride will be before you get in. The cab driver then pretended not to know where we wanted to go even though it is one of the most famous attractions in Istanbul. To make a very long and scary ride short, Peggy’s research indicated that the ride should be $10. He stopped no where near where we wanted to go and demanded $100! Well, there was no way that was happening and I told him so and had the door open ready to get out. I ended up giving him 600 Turkish Lira which is about $30. Believe it or not on the short cab ride back to the hotel $30 was what we were charged (that we negotiated before hand). We found out later from the front desk that we could have taken the tram in front of the hotel for $4. Live and learn.

Our first stop, after a very helpful person gave us directions from where the cab driver dumped us, was at the Cistern Basilica which it the largest cistern under the city of Istanbul. It was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries by 7,000 slaves to provide water for the Sultan’s palaces. The ceiling is supported by over 300 marble columns. The Cistern was featured in the James Bond movie, To Russia With Love. Now in the Cistern are very eclectic art exhibitions and light shows.

We continued walking around Sultanahmet Square visiting places that we will not see on our tour that will technically start tomorrow. We stopped in one building that we were required to take off our shoes and cover our heads with a scarf. It was filled with tombs of sultans, their wives and children.

Upon our return to the hotel we decided to walk to the Galata Tower. Peggy had a walking map on her phone. Little did I know that Peggy has no sense of direction, even with a map. Unable to find the highest tower in Istanbul we stopped at a little sidewalk cafe where I had a wonderful falafel bowl with pickled vegetables and tahini. I was one happy camper. We started our walk back to the hotel and when we turned the corner there was the tower at the top of a very steep cobblestone hill. And steep it was. I thought I was going to die. We finally got there and it is basically $30 to climb up the inside of this tower to get a view of the city. Not happening. The picture below is all that happened.

We met all our travel mates tonight and what a great group. 4 single girls plus Peggy and me. I can tell this is going to be a fun group.