Istanboats!

Steaming off in yet another direction today, we had our first experience of Istanbul's efficient tram to get us up to Kabatas, where we caught the boat to the Princes Islands. So we crossed the Golden Horn by tram, nipped across to Kafikoy in Asia and sailed across the Sea of Marmara.

We got off at Heybelladia, had lunch and went for a peaceful walk past wooden mansions- some in better repair than others. The outstanding thing about these islands is the lack of traffic, because it is banned. In our afternoon there, apart from three vans, the only vehicles we saw were bicycles and horse drawn "faytons", plus one electric powered tricycle. We were also accompanied by four friendly dogs for a large portion of our walk - there's no escape!

This quiet setting was a big contrast to Istanbul. When we returned, we braved the rush hour tram and got squeezed out a stop too soon! Sadly, this has been our last full day here - tomorrow we fly to pastures new: Izmir and then on to Selcuk.