You can do some interesting sight-seeing without going far from the Bomonti Mercure where we're staying.

First up, the organic market, which happens on Saturdays:


Definitely makes you want to come back, stay longer, and self-cater... Although then you'd miss out on the Mercure's legendary breakfast buffet...

Then the Ihlamur Palace, an Ottoman-era summer pavilion:



The little park in which it's situated is a riot of ducks, seagulls, peacocks, rabbits, and parrots:








Across the road is the World Peace Park:



And not far away is the Ataturk Museum. This is situated in one of Mustafa Kemal's residences, which he shared until 1919 with his mother, sister, and aide-de-camp. It would have seen some historic meetings during the closing years of World War II.







Strolling Istanbul is always fun. There's always something interesting to draw your attention:


There's always food available:


Often there's something quirky or random:



And there are ALWAYS cats. I know I mention this a lot. But they're just such a fabulous feature of this city. You go past someone sitting on a park bench, and find he's talking on the phone -- with a cat on his lap. You overtake the lady going up the hill because she's stopped to talk to a cat. You go into Marks & Spencer, and there's a cat waiting to greet you.

And this cafe cat made herself right at home:



Sunday morning is always a great time for walking in Istanbul:




But the goal of this morning's walk was to get us to Besiktas, and the ferry. So that's in the next post.