There will be peddlers on your cruise, no doubt, selling something. On ours, it was ladies' sweaters, and there wasn't much of a variety. They also have a small snack bar.

Back to the water: we saw some Nato ships anchored at the widest part of the straight, and were told they were on maneuvers. We knew that they were there just in case things got out of control in the middle east.

Ocean bound cruise liners also stop on the Bosphorus at the golden horn which is sort of a cul de sac not far from the Galata Tower. You will go under the Bosporus Bridge which links Europe to Asia, and was completed in 1973. There are so many mosques, castles, hip communities, sleepy villages communities, it's impossible to remember them all.

We did spot the hospital which was setup by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War. Part of that building is reserved as a museum in tribute to her accomplishments.

It's a good idea to take the cruise first, and note which areas you'd like to explore further. If you are looking for the "where it's happening" place for the young and restless, then make Ortakoy a stop. It's sort of the "Greenwich Village" of the Bosphorus. Remarkably,you can find in this village a mosque, a church and a synagogue in serene coexistence.

We went on an excursion type ferry, rather than one of the regular ones, as it was just about the leave when we wandered down to the quay – called Besitkas. It then crossed the straits a couple of times, giving us a chance to see the shore from different angles, before stopping for an hour on the Asian side, next to a café / restaurant. We decided to make the most of our time, so went for a wander, stopping to see a small, beautiful white marble mosque, and went inside. The interior was carpeted, and the white, cream and blue mosaic was beautiful. The photo attached to this journal entry is of the minarets of the mosque.

In the remaining time, we wandered through small streets, dodging small children and the odd chicken which seemed to have escaped from its home. The Asian side of the city does seem different in character from the European side, and the contrast is fascinating to observe. Buying soft drinks, and getting back to the boat to bag seats on the outside, shaded area, we settled down to enjoy the sea breezes and view on the way back to Europe. It was an altogether lovely way to spend an afternoon, and I heartily recommend it. The other photo shown here was taken on the way back, into the evening sun, when the contrast between the setting sun and the blues waves just catching the silvery light of it was beautiful.

The boats leave about 6 times a day, and cost about £2. You can also take a normal scheduled ferry (which costs about a quarter of the price) to an Asian port, but they go much more directly, being for transport not tourists, and I think you would miss out.