Istanbul day 2 - Museums and Sausage

Central mall is location of Hippodrome, where chariot races took place.  It has a 3500 year old Egyptian obelisk in it.

Parks and streets filled with tourists. Kev says more Muslim tourists here than 16 years ago. Pat shows off massive delts on hot day.

A few hours in archeology museum. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc...artifacts dug up from around Turkey and old Ottoman Empire.

Learned something new...sarcophagi were re-used by subsequent empires' rich and famous 

We were all amazed that the detailed carvings had lasted through the eons

That window is our room, but this bar is in the hostel next door.  We look right into it, so we went to check it out.

The sights (pony-tailed Australians hitting on drunk Brits ironically wearing touristy headgear) and smells (b.o. and Irish Spring soap) of hostels brought us back to our 20's

Walking the gauntlet...restaurant alleys have aggressive salesmen shoving their menus at you trying to start a conversation, "Hello, my friend! Where you from?"

We were lured into this place with "6 lira beers."  Pat and Kev make fun of the small portions. We only had a couple appetizers, then left.

Hit home run on sausage place, though.

Lots of locals and Muslim tourists were a good sign. Rick Steves steered us right again.  We want to hate him, but his suggestions are good.

Evil genius bent on world domination through his guide books. Watch out. 

Curt is proud of his meat

Sausage guy.

Dessert shop has a menu like a giant catalog

Instagram food douchers. Who does this?

Here's my pic of my bird's nests ;)

Foot washing station near mosque