Istanbul -- The Bosphorus and Bebek

Today after a leisurely breakfast and perusing a couple of papers (I always try to get an English version of the local paper) it’s time for a tour of the Bosphorus.  Our boat, like other passenger boats, goes up and down the sides of the straight while the big oil tankers cruise the middle – boats go from the Black Sea to the Sea of Maramara for half the day and the reverse direction for the other half. . Historically the European side of the Bosphorus has been more commercial and the Asian side more residential, but now it’s a mix and both sides are lined with restaurants, houses, mosques, and palaces. This is the most expensive real estate in Istanbul.

When you are staying at a great hotel and you have jet lag there is only one thing to do:  go to the pool for napping, reading and blogging. I’ve noticed that the paper is full of Turkish politics. They just had elections on Sunday and the conservative candidate Erodgan won his third election. Mr. Erodgan is very religious and the Turkish intelligentsia is getting nervous about the direction he is taking the country. The military, through a series of coups, has managed to keep Turkey secular when a prime minister has gotten out of line. Mr.Erdogan however, has marginalized their power by putting some of the big brass in prison. It will probably surprise you to know that Turkey currently has more journalists in prison than any other country. My guide today on the Bosphorus could barely veil her contempt of Erdogan, but the fact is, Turkey’s economy is booming and Mr. Erdogan is getting the credit.

We jumped in a taksi (taxi) and went to Kitchenette in Bebek for dinner. Bebek is an area that is full of bars, clubs, and restaurants and reminded me of SoHo or The Village in New York – young, hip, and cool. After my pizza and Chianti I took the plunge and ordered a Turkish coffee. WOW! There’s a reason it’s served in such a small cup. The coffee was creamy and delicious but boy was it strong. This is the first time I’ve ever had to floss after drinking coffee!

What I Wore:

I started the day in a black Ralph Lauren Rugby dress that looks like something Audrey Hepburn would wear – great with a pony tail for a windy tour of the Bosphorus.

A black swimsuit was the only choice because I only had room for one. It had to be chic enough for The Four Seasons, sexy enough for the beach at Bodrum, and dark for swimming in the muddy Dead Sea.

For dinner in Bebek I wore this great knit striped dress that can go on or off the shoulders with funky black sandals. A knit dress is great for travel — easy to pack and no ironing so you can stay by the pool longer:)