It's a shame we couldn't spend longer in Bursa as I'm sure there was loads more of interest to see. But we had a ferry to catch and Bursa's ferry port, Güzelyali, was actually about 30kms away and we couldn't afford to miss our 14:00 ferry. As it was we got there about 12:15 and then had the wonderful options of the ferry terminal café or McDonald's to get lunch. On the basis we knew what we'd be ordering we opted for McD but ordering became very complicated as no one behind the counter spoke any English whatsoever - eventually some kind soul took pity on us and the rest of the group who were also trying to order and translated for us. It turned out he was the Ferry Port Manager and we expressed how grateful we were for his help - everyone we've met here has been delightful.
We then had a wander around outside but most of the port was roped off so we just hung around and watched these two cormorants.
Our ferry approaching.
Originally Göksel had told us we needed to be back on the coach to board, but then changed his mind and decided we could walk on and sit anywhere. That turned out not to be the case and Ian and I got moved several times so in the end we just went and sat in the designated seats. It was a rather boring 2 hour crossing but we people watched and kept ourselves amused.
Crossing the Sea of Marmara, a busy shipping lane and a vital waterway
for trade between Europe and Asia.
This time we're staying on the western side of Istanbul, because of course our original itinerary had us visiting the mosques etc which are fairly nearby. We reached our hotel, the very nice 5* Eresin Topkapi hotel around 16:00, we then met again at 18:30 to drive back into the city centre and across the Golden Horn to the Pera Palas Hotel.
The Pera Palas is famous having been built especially to accommodate passengers from the Orient Express. The lobbies are cluttered with 19th century furniture and the common areas we saw were lavishly decorated. I checked with reception that it would be OK to take a few photos - obviously not of their guests - and the chap on reception was delighted I'd had the courtesy to ask, as apparently most people don't. So a few shots of the bar areas.
Afternoon tea was just being cleared way.
The ceiling.
A few of the many famous visitors over the years; Pierre Loti (?), Greta Garbo, Ian Fleming, Jackie O, Ernest Hemmingway and Sarah Bernhardt.
It was all a bit strange as to what our "included drink" consisted of; Göksel didn't know if it was a glass of wine or a bottle of champagne, but unfortunately having checked with his office it was the former so given the prices charged we sat and nursed our one glass. Strangely the bar we were sitting in wasn't permitted to serve tea or coffee which was a shame for those who didn't drink.
The whole group was a little jaded and I think the evening would have worked so much better at the beginning when we were getting to know each other.
I wandered down to check out the loos, all very art deco
I was fascinated by this ever repeating reflection.
A nod to Agatha Christie and other publications the hotel has been mentioned in.
After about an hour we'd all had enough and were ready to go back to the hotel. By the time we got back I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, but Ian needed to eat so we went to the hotel's restaurant. Ian ordered some sort of pasta dish but I opted for just a cheese toastie, which when it finally turned up after a long wait had ham in it. The head waiter immediately offered to have another one cooked but I was too tired to wait again so just told him to forget it - 5 mins later he produced a freshly cooked cheese only one for which he refused to charge us.