Our start to Istanbul was heralded by a long call to prayer to start the four day feast festival.
Sadly all the key sites were closed for the morning. We still explored the area we are staying in. Got to see the Turkish President leaving the Blue Mosque from morning prayers. Wow massive security and lots of guns! Two small boys very impressed.
We took the team across the Galata bridge then the funicular up to Istikal Avenue where we saw lots of people and walked all the way to Taksim Sq. Underwhelming as a sight but great to have stood where we have seen so much happen.
A highlight for us all was getting to see the inside of the Blue Mosque - totally inspiring and so huge. The colours were incredible.
Dinner was at a local Turkish restaurant which was scrumptious and the bonus was an under ground castle that we got to explore after dinner. 1700 years old they have recently discovered it and it's still being excavated.