This morning I had breakfast with Dave and Ivan and was joined by Joe, a fellow from Australia. He is a boilermaker in a coal mine in northeast Queensland. A nice fellow in his late 40's with a very unique beard. Together Joe and I explored a bit more of the old city visiting the Grand Bazaar. This is a huge complex of shops all under one roof. I estimated from the size of the facility that there must have been over 500 stores.
Next we entered a huge local mosque. Afterward we wandered the hardware
district ducking in and out of various stores looking at tools and such. Then it was on to the Egyptian Spice Market-nothing like a hardware and grocery store fix to make my day!
Down to the river we wandered around the myriad of boats before heading into the electronics district where I was able to replace the camera I lost the day before.
Back at the hostel a few beers was followed by a long nap and a nice dinner once again on the terrace overlooking the Bosphorus.
From the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, this is my first "round-the-world" tour and the first time I am traveling alone. It's also the first time I am NOT the leader of the group. This will be a huge adventure for me, one that tests my patience (smile), stamina and my ability to adapt. I can't wait!
