ISTANBUL, DAY ONE

WE RACED OFF THE SHIP AS SOON AS IT DOCKED AND WALKED AROUND IN CIRCLES FOR MILES UNTIL WE FINALLY FOUND A TOUR BUS WHICH WE GOT ON AND RODE AROUND THE WHOLE CITY FOR OVER TWO HOURS. THE CITY HAS CHANGED MUCH SINCE WE WERE HERE TEN YEARS AGO. IT HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THERE ARE ABOUT 15 MILLION LIVING IN ISTANBUL ALONE AND THE CROWDS AND TRAFFICE ARE JUST AWFUL. WHILE ON THE BUS WE REALIZED HOW MUCH THINGS HAVE CHANGED. WE WERE SO EXHAUSTED THAT WE HEADED BACK TO THE SHIP FOR OUR LAST NIGHT AND ENJOYED OUR LAST DINNER AND A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.