On 26th April, 2009 I flew to Istanbul, Turkey, to join M.V. Discovery as part of another Maritime Memories voyage. This one was called "European Odyssey" and took in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmaris and the Mediterranean. The itinerary was as follows: Istanbul, Black Sea, Sochi (Russia), Yalta (Ukraine), Sevastapol (Russia), across the Black Sea to Nesbur (Bulgaria), Bospherus, Canakkale (Turkey & Gallipoli peninsular), Kusadasi (Turkey), Heraklion (Crete-Greek Islands), Santorini (Greek Islands), Mykonos (Greek Islands), Piraeus (Greece), Valetta (Malta), Messins (Italy), Sorrento (Italy), Civitavecchia for Rome (Italy), Ajaccio (Corsica), Almeria (Spain), Gibraltar, Cadiz (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Harwich. My Wife, Anne, would join me in Piraeus Sunday 10th May 2009. The following pages contain photographs arranged in groups according to the area visited.
ISTANBUL
Discovery at Istanbul 26th April 2009
Aida Diva in front of us
Blue Mosque from Discovery
Hippodrome, Istanbul
King Tutmosis Obilisk, Hippodrome
Blue Mosque from the Gardens
Gardens with Tulips
Inside the Blue Mosque 
Main Praying Area
Top of Dome in Blue Mosque
Topkapi Palace, First Courtyard
Mosaic Wall Tiles
Entrance to The Diva, Topkapi Palace
Ornate Wall Coverings-Diva
Ornate Drinking Fountain
Roof of Dome in the Palace
Palace Buildings
View over Bosphorus from Palace
The Port from Palace, Discovery right
After boarding the vessel on the 26th April, we had another full day in port which enabled me to go on a tour of Istanbul. It is a fascinating place and well worth while paying a return visit sometime. We sailed at 1700 and went under the Bosphorus Bridge at 1815 bound for the Black Sea.
Port of Istanbul by Night