Wandering home after dinner in a sprinkle of rain, I took the outside running on the chariot track approaching the bend near the obelisk for the first time. My eye was taken by the full moon over the minarets of the Blue Mosque and as Ilze went for the whip, the finishing post being in sight, I stumbled on a 30mm chasm and fell heavily.  I may have to be put down.  I struggled to my feet as the stewards began erecting screens and made it home.  My knee began to swell as I down loaded my photos from the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul and made good use of Debbie’s pack of frozen mixed vegetables from the freezer.

As Ilze has already reported, this is the hidden gem of the Sultanahmet.  Only 10 lira to get in {Less than $5}.  The sheer quantity of items, from Assyrian and Egyptian up to Greek and Roman is staggering.  The stuff they have out on the café terrace would make the Melbourne museum staff weep.  As the Ottomans conquered Egypt in mid 15^th Century, they had first pick of the loot, I mean treasures. The Brits and French got the leftovers until Howard Carter found those “things, wonderful things and everywhere the glint of gold” in Tuts tomb.

Ottoman treasures

If you come this way, forget the Topkapi Palace this is the one to do.

Howard Carter, eat your heart out

Ilze checking out suitable internment arrangements

Peter