Dary #4 — The Ferry to Heybeliada

My Wednesday was totally different from Sarah's. We experienced very different kinds of beauty. 

I took a ferry to the Princes' Islands. The 90-minute ferry ride was possibly the best part of the day

A flock of sea gulls followed along with our boat for the entire journey. They knew people would be feeding them from the side of the boat. They were absolutely gorgeous.

This ferry is a regular commuter boat. Almost all the passengers are Turkish. 

A guy came around every once in a while hawking round circles of bread —picture a big pretzel in the shape of a ring, but it's bread, not pretzel — topped with sesame seeds. Yummy! The young woman next to me bought one, broke off a piece, and offered it to me. That began a lovely interchange!

They are both age 18, university students, one studying to become a doctor. They were on holiday, off to an island, although not the island I was headed for.

 When the ferry docked at my destination, Heybeliada, the people immediately in front of me walking down the ramp were apparently not Turkish. I was charmed by the woman's accordion, and the jollity in their little group.

After a cup of tea at the docks, I walked up a hill in the town, past lovely old mansions with well-tended gardens.

These are, for the most part, Turkish vacation homes.

They speak of money and comfort.

Note the barbed wire atop the metal fence! Just like Cochabamba!

Alas, not all the homes are kept up.

Some look like they just need a coat of paint. 

There are NO CARS on these islands!  Although I did see a few delivery trucks.  Lots of bicycles, many of them with whining motors.

My left knee said it would be a bad idea to climb this street of stairs, but I sure wanted to!

Near the top of the town I found a little park:

Street cats roam freely here, just as in Istanbul. 

One cat thought climbing my leg might be fun.

Tourists take rides in these horse-drawn carriages. I don't. Does that mean I'm not a tourist?

Runaway horses! There were five or six of them! Are they wild horses, or have these just escaped from their carriage master?

Back on the ferry for the return trip to Istanbul:

I was awakened from a little snooze by the wonderful sounds of accordion and clarinet! Oh! The same couple I'd seen exiting the ferry a few hours ago! They were playing Hava Nagila! When they took a break, half the people on the ferry applauded. While the young woman continued playing, the man took off his hat and passed it through the crowd.

On the Asian side of Istanbul — loading and off-loading ships.

Later that evening, we got together with the man who had befriended my friend, Caroline, when she was hospitalized here in Turkey. Terrific guy, we lingered over dinner for three hours. 

I was so exhausted when we got back to our guesthouse that I considered going to sleep in my street clothes. Hence this morning post of what transpired yesterday. Now...  Off to the Topkapi Palace!