Jack Campin - bogus address wrote:

Just back from ten days in Istanbul, which is near to being the cat
capital of the planet.

Jack - did you take any PICTURES?? I want to see!!

- just south of the top of the Tunel is the Galata Sufi centre. This
has an extended family of cats guarding the saints' tombs

Sufis have saints?

- the most stunning place for cats I have ever seen anywhere is the
island of Heybeliada in the Sea of Marmara. This is carless -
there are a few trucks and dozens of horses and carts. The cats
mostly hang out around the quayside since that's where the fish is
(a few fishmongers, people landing fish, very good fish restaurants).
Tabbies, silver tabbies, gingers, calicos, torties, blacks, tuxedo
cats, and some very dark torties in a colour scheme I've never seen
elsewhere.

This I would really love to see! I hope you did get some photos while you
were there!

Sounds like a great trip. What's the best time of year to go there? I'd
love to go sometime. A friend of mine went there about 4 years ago and
loved it. (But didn't mention cats.)

Joyce