Istanbul - 15 March

We promised ourselves that we would have a lie in this morning and so we did. The beds are very hard in Turkey but we have been so tired the discomfort has not been a problem.

Following our late breakfast where Ron has become accostomed to eating far too many olives, we jumped on the local tram and headed for a visit to Dolmabahce Palace. The palace was built in the 18th Century when the Sultan of the Ottaman Empire at that time in history, decided that Topkapi Palace was a little 'old fashioned'. One of its manu claims to fame is the largest crystal chandelier in Turkey weighing a whopping 4 tonne. The palace could almost be called the crystal palace due to the over use of crystal including french chandeliers in every room and crystal balastrades on stairs. Upon entering the palace buildings we were required to don plastic shoe covers (very sexy).

This palace witnessed the end of the Ottoman Empire when in the 1930's Turkey became a republic and the last of the Sultans and his family were exiled from the country. Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, also used the palace and his bed is kept in situe as if only just this morning he woke, put on his modern turkish state pants and walk out to work.

Our afternoon was spent risking a little retail therapy. Again we became tired of being harassed and decided to retreat to our hotel room.