» Day 10 - Mardin-Istanbul (B,L,D)

Following breakfast we are transferred to the airport for our Istanbul flights. Half day Bosphorus tour.

Bosphorus by Boat: This cruise along the waterway separating the two continents of Asia and Europe offers front-door views of marble palaces, ancient wooden Ottoman villas, green vistas, and modern residences and luxurious apartment buildings.

Spice Market: This large and old stone building that includes a large number of shops (and a second floor restaurant that has long held a venerable place in the life of the city) was built in 1664. This collection of shops was actually a part of the complex of the adjacent Yeni Cami (the `New Mosque` whose construction was started in 1597, but finished decades later).  Since its construction, the Egyptian Spice Market has specialized in the sale of exotic spices. Today, these lovely small shops continue to sell spices, but also now sell dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and other edibles.  Some of the shops are gradually being transformed into shops featuring jewelry and other high margin items.  The meandering lanes behind the Spice Bazaar lead eventually to the larger Grand Bazaar. These narrow and often bustling streets are full of shops with fascinating items for sale.