boring but necessary post to keep up record 🤣🤣

The next day was a long awaited sea day - our only aim was to be up to attend a lecture at 11.00 which was  about hints and tips about visiting Istanbul. There wasn't much new but it was good to have clarification about some bits - we only have a day and we need to use it as best.

Now a revelation - we finally made it up to the proper restaurant! We can eat there for breakfast or lunch anytime it is open. And interestingly the food was very tasty. I have to say it is by far the best thing I've eaten on this ship by a massive long way... To be honest I don't know how they get away with serving the slop they serve in the Thistle compared with the food we were served from the fancy lunch menu in the proper restaurant. Especially as these restaurants are closed for lunch on port days so their usual clientel have to use the Thistle... This discovery of tasty food means that every opportunity we have at lunch time we will definitely eat upstairs... Even though they do mess with Dr Fred's Cutlery🤣🤣🤣

We can of course, by arrangement, eat in the restaurant every night... But it doesn't suit us because Dr Fred has to work in the evening. They already won't bother to accommodate the second sitting diners to go to stargazing - and that would be the sitting we would be offered - So it's not really an option for us.

But it is interesting how much better the food - even the buffet is upstairs..... 

We sat around reading and watching the land slide by. The ship was navigating the Daidenels strait and its quite narrow with an amazing suspension bridge joining Asia to Europe.

On a day like today i.e, rare sea day you realise just how busy the ship is. I went to the art class but it was packed so no room. I sat in the Marquee bar instead and drew out a potential plan for my 'optique' - a project I am involved with the Bowes museum and some community arts. More about it later. My coat is coming along quite nicely too.....

Tomorrow Istanbul... EXCITED!!!