.:like a painted ship upon a painted sea or far and away:.

As we have packed and are waiting for the shuttle to take us back to Ataturk International, here is just a short blog on yesterday's activities: an all day cruise through the Golden Horn and the Bosphorous, some 30 km, to the mouth of Black Sea.  It turns out that the shuttle service was quite prompt and rather preempted posting.  It was very beautiful and relaxing. 

There was a village (and Turkish Army depot) at the northern-stop (the village's name meant something like "turn-around point" and Zollamt), and it was wonderful to get away from the noise and the pulse of the city.  There was a two hour pause during which we hiked up to the ruins of a fortress looking back over the entire landscape, Istanbul disappearing below the horizon.   It was quite peaceful to enjoy the sun and the view in the busy waters without the pace and urchins of the city.  Some recurring figures defy explanation, like the guy on almost every street corner with a Spirograph and colored pens, or those selling merchandise from the Island of Misfit Toys--there was quite a lot of that, or the ubiquitous old man with a bathroom scale.  It was hard to make sense of it all. 
After the cruise, we returned to the Grand Bazaar for a final look around, and then to a little restaurant around the corner from the hotel.  It had very understated decor and was cozy, and I think, unintentionally romantic and sweet with classic Dean Martin songs playing into the streets.  It was a very good, rejuvenating vacation and I am sad to leave.  Gülé gülé, Istanbul.