Tram trekking in Istanbul

Tram trekking in Istanbul - why not!

Same trams and clanging bells, same squeal as they round a corner, different advertising on the sides. A bit like being at home! So this day we went across the Galata Bridge right to the end of the line. Then hopped on a ferry and travelled up, or is that along or down, the Bosphorus Straits. It really is a gorgeous location with apartments and mansions spilling down the hills dense with dark green foliage to the waters of the Bosphorus with sumptuous summer palaces along the waters edge. 

People fish along every bit of shore - Golden Horn, Sea of Marmara, the ferry wharf as well as the Bosphorus. Needless to say fish is on most menus! 

On the Asian side of the Straits there’s an extensive area where wealthy Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Turks settled. Like most waterfronts however the houses fronting the water are all rather large. 

Once back to the wharf at Kabataş we took the funicular up to Taksim, a huge square at the top of the hill. Great views! We were going to take the tourist tram down the hill back to Galata bridge, but just like the cute little trams that climb the hills in San Fransisco, they were chock-a-block with people hanging off them. So we walked. 

Fascinating walking street winding its way down the hill. Footy fans blasting out their songs (even heard ‘when the saints’ not those words of course but the tune). Ice cream vendors each with their own elaborate performance to serve delicious blackberry, pistachio, vanilla and other flavours, buskers, people simply strolling. 

On the way down the hill, we visited Galata Tower which overlooks the intersection between the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. When it was built in C14th, it was the tallest building in Istanbul.  It replaced the original tower built in C12th which controlled the entrance to the Golden Horn. That tower was destroyed by ... wait for it .... the Crusaders! Holy wars? Never! 

But ..... where were we? By this time we were at the bottom of the hill and back on a tram. A great day out! 

In spite of riding trams and ferries we walked over 6km in fact we’ve averaged over 6km per day since we’ve been here - which is about our average since leaving home. Do I feel fit? Not yet but getting there. 

This mosque is associated with the Dolmabahçe palace 

Vodafone arenas are everywhere!



This is one of the narrowest spots on the Bosphorus- there are fortifications on either side. 



Automatic doors on the funicular 



Galata tower 











A big game coming up and the brass band was out in full force.