Driving to the rock place, local town is typical story, some chemical and tobacco industries before, but has died down since USSR collapsed
Balkan in Turkish means mountains
Traveling on E79 –
The E79 is essentially Bulgaria’s vertical spine:
Connects Danube → Sofia → Greece Critical for trade, logistics, and EU integration Still evolving, with infrastructure upgrades underway
If you’re traveling in Bulgaria, E79 is actually one of the most scenic routes too—especially near the mountains and toward the Greek border. I can point out the best stretches if you’re planning a drive.
Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului Catedrala Națională a României, biggest Orthodox church in
Palace of Parliament, second largest government building, next to Pentagon. Lots of building are similar in style/look and feel. Built around 80. From 84 to 89, finished 70%, all finished around 1994. Michael Jackson filmed here 1992, he came out to speak: good morning Budapest 🤣
From 50s started the communism until 90s, houses went from private to state-owned, then back to private, but during the transition lots of issue about gaining the ownership back, do lots of houses were not maintained because there was no clear ownership.
Victory Square.
“Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum Muzeul Național al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti”
Took van ride to the air, morning rush hour was interesting with our crazy driver. IST business lounge is amazing , IST is a very modern and lovely airport
Arriving Bucharest. Eating dinner at Allucinante Italian restaurant.
Visited Suleymaniye Mosque Süleymaniye Camii, about 15 minutes walk from our hotel. Again the hotel breakfast is still the champ😁
Galata Towero, took taxi from mosque to Galata Tower, line was long and is about 45 Euro, so we skipped, and strolled around the local shops, was really good, Nono got some tea glasses.
Lunch at Kervan Kebab Grıll
Was going to visit Dolmabahçe Palace Dolmabahçe Sarayı, but too many people gave up
Went back to hotel and visited İBB Beyazıt Küllük Büfe got some good latte.
Beyazit Mosque Square Beyazıt Meydanı
Grand Bazaar was so near by, main building is closed for weekend, but near by stores are all open, mainly clothing and shoes, fake ones😁
Bosphorus Cruise, 3 of us went, ShuTing stayed at the hotel. Bus picked up up from hotel, traffic was heavy to the port, but the cruise was good.
First day trip for Istanbul, going to be a busy day, ate at the hotel for breakfast, very good food. We will be staying here for 5 nights, so this is a good thing.
First place did today is Topkapi Palace, the headquarter of the Ottoman Empire built in 1400.
Lunch at Sultan Palace Cafe Restaurant
Blue Mosque, everyone has to take the shoes off. It’s a big musk, with the celebration Eid, lots of people were praying as well, but it’s all nice and quiet.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, another mosque, it was a Orthodox church during Byzantine, changed to mosque during Ottoman, change to museum 1935, then to mosque in 2020.
Welcome to LKK Club 