On to Plovdiv.

I began this morning by visiting the cisterns.  Given there was no line I thought I was in the wrong place, but realized later in the day that people go there to escape the midday heat so by 2:00 in the afternoon the line was out the door and around the corner!  Glad I beat that rush...  It was cool (pun intended) down below and really neat to see.  I ate lunch on the shore of the Golden Horn straight where boats were docked along the pier -- on one side catching fresh fish and on the other serving fresh fish sandwiches.  I just wish someone had warned me of all the bones...

I spent the afternoon relaxing in Sultanahmet Park in which I thought I was occupying a shade space only big enough for one - ha, silly me!  Soon after I sat down, a nice family from Kuwait sat down and before long we had struck up a conversation.  It was delightful, ending in them trying to convince me to come to Kuwait and stay with them...such friendly people.

I now wait in my hostel before it's time to leave for the bus station to take an overnight bus to Plovdiv.  Like most times in my travels after spending a week in a city, it is just starting to feel like I belong and I'm just starting to get the hang of things - that feeling will be missed.  However, I'm excited for a change of scenery and the challenges that tomorrow will certainly bring (i.e. no hostel booked, but hey that just means my options of where to stay are endless).

On a final note, it was weird (and kind of lonely) spending the day alone, but it's just something I'll have to get used to.