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Day 102 Istanbul

📅 Monday 20 July 2026
After a bit of browsing and souvenir purchasing we waved off all our friends today from the Empress Zoe Hotel. The Grand Bazaar caught us out again this morning. We stopped for a coffee and made sure we could see the prices so we wouldn't be ripped off, but when we came to pay they only accepted cash and we didn't have enough. We've been asking everywhere else, this was the first place we didn't check. So we had to go to an ATM to get enough Lira. It almost happened again at lunch - we made sure we could pay be card then after the meal were told cash only. It turned out the cafe owner had hardly ever used his card machine and wasn't sure how to take payment, but we persuaded him. There are a few more sights to see - Taksim square and some other mosques we haven't visited yet - but it's been quite a whirlwind week and we're happy to relax in our hotel room.
Love, Kat & Mat x
Istanbul

After a bit of browsing and souvenir purchasing, then card playing, we waved off all our friends today from the Empress Zoe Hotel.

Istanbul

In the evening we visited bustling Taksim Square.

Istanbul

We walked back through Karakoy, past the illuminated Galata Tower.