Morning on the Bosphorus

I woke up slowly this morning, to fog covering the hills, freighters and fishing boats chugging past, sea birds crying, and the call to prayer coming faintly over the water.

Because I'm sleeping in Asia, but most of what I want to see is in Europe, I'm spending a fair amount of time on the Bosphorus. This is the hotel's private boat, which departs hourly for the half hour ride to Kabatas. From there it's a quick tram ride to the old city. (The hotel brochure describes it as an “elegant 12-seater”; anyway, it's comfortable and gets you where you want to go.)