April 10 - To Istanbul

We up pretty early to have breakfast and then disembark the cruise for our ride to the Rome airport.  

Our flight departs mid-morning. Some views of the Italian coastline from the plane.

We are flying business class and the lunch was very good.  It started with a selection of yummy mezes (small plates) that are common in Turkish cuisine.

We are staying at the Pera Palace Hotel.  It a lovely old classic hotel.  It has two claims to fame…Agatha Christie wrote “Murder on the Orient Express” while staying here and Ataturk (father of modern-day Turkey) stayed here for a while when the secular Turkey was being formed.

A claw-footed tub inside a shower enclosure.  

In the dining room we saw this lovely piece.  We had one almost exactly like it in our Moraga Home.  Loved this piece.

It is a lovely, heritage hotel.