Day 3 Istanbul

Yesterday: secret to climbing 8a appears to be going out clubbing to 3 am! Prior to that we went to Marmarisa University for (small) climbing wall - first time I've got a ship to get to a climbing wall (i.e. some ferry from Istanbul to some other bit of Istanbul!). 'Pub' then club. Met Duncan. Nice to be able to get a cake at 2:30 am. Like wall, but a bit small, plus I don't really like climbing walls - too many holds to deal with! I like Istanbul - yesterday morning walked around bazaar. Must buy a towel. Bought a new 'man' bag.

A little annoyed I get asked for small bits of money; a couple of lira here, a couple of lira there. I am probably more 'broke' than the recepients. Looks like another hot day, well, not too hot - I guess it will get hotter later.

12:45 pm On tram to Aksoy - some sort of climbing wall; I have rope and harness etc - promises of 20 metre (!) routes. Hottish. Lots ruins; hazy blue sky.

19:00 Back at [Istanbul] hostel. Spent this afternoon at a climbing wall inside a real western style shopping centre / mall. Called the Olivium Shopping Mall. Indeed a 20 metre wall - a crag for poseurs! Good fun. Expensive medium-sweet Turkish coffee half way through [the climbing]. Not sure it helped the climbing though! Bought a towel. Just need a padlock then I'm set...