In the Summer of 2016 Bill and I flew to Istanbul where we boarded a clipper ship for a cruise to Athens with stops at Canakkale, Turkey: Limnos, Ouranopolis, Skiathos, Mykonos, and Poros, Greece.  

Our hotel was located near the Taxim area, and we found traveling on the trolleys to be the best way to get around. With only a few days before we left for the cruise, we made our way to see the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and ate lunch one day along the Bosphorus river. The topper for me on that visit was the Grand Bazaar. You name it, it was on sale within the many shops of the bazaar. Spices, fabrics, and candies of all descriptions were there for the bargaining.  I haven’t as yet returned to Istanbul, but it is on my shortlist of places to revisit.