1. 12:42 29th Nov 2011

    A Late Bosphorus “Cruise”

    There not being much going on locally, I tried a trip to Istanbul (fabulous!) and took a Bosphorus “Cruise” from the Golden Horn, while I was there. Well, I did cheat rather and took the “stopping” motor ferry from Istanbul to Anadolu Kavagi, where I climbed to Yorus Castle to view the Black Sea. As you can see from my heavy weather gear it was pretty cold! The waterway is fairly narrow and a one-way convoy system is operated by tugs and pilots to escort big vessels in transit. Along the shores (Europe and Asia) there are magnificent palaces and small villages, with the inevitable fishing boats to dodge. There are two impressive suspension bridges, one of which carries volumes of motorway traffic heading for Syria and places West. Noticeably I spotted only one yachtie here, most of them being in the more spacious waters of the Sea of Marmora to the East, indulging in some Saturday racing.  If anyone is looking for crew, I can now claim some passing acquaintance with the area!