Istanbul Report - Aya Sophia, a marvel of ancient engineering, which started life in 582AD as a church then became a mosque and is now a museum. Opposite is the Blue Mosque

I was dripping all over with bubbles, with eyes stinging and a mouth full of soap. .. and I felt ecstatic. This was my first Turkish bath -- a vigorous scrub with a loofah then a foamy massage from a cheerful attendant at a 400-year-o d hamam (hot bath) in Istanbul. After a hectic day of sightseeing, scoffing cakes drenched in treacle and haggling in the world's biggest bazaar, it was both heavenly and hilarious. Istanbul is all about mixing sensations. It's the city where east meets west -- sliced in two by the river Bosporus with one side in Europe and the other in Asia. Previously called Constantinople, the city combines the exotic with the familiar and has been a melting pot of cultures for thousands of years. It has monumental mosques, glittering mosaics and heady harems -- plus English-style pubs. local Efes lager and McDonald's. It's a shoppers' paradise where you can splash out on lush carpets and gold or spend a few quid on fake Burberry bags and imitation DKNY gear. You can lounge under tented ceilings sipping mint tea and puffing on a hookah pipe or sit in stylish cafes with a cappuccino and chocolate éclair. Whatever you choose, it's a fun and affordable mini-break -- and it's only three hours away by plane. Istanbul is one of the friendliest cities you will visit. Locals are as bubbly as their baths and their good humour leaves you laughing and smiling. Of course, it's easy for tourists to smile. With more than a million Turkish lira to the pound, every visitor becomes a multi-millionaire. The main historical sights are within walking distance of each other in the district of Sultanahmet, where we stayed in the welcoming Hotel Obelisk & Sumengen. The most famous attraction is the domed Aya Sophia, a marvel of ancient engineering, which started life in 582AD as a church then became a mosque and is now a museum. Opposite is the Blue Mosque, named after its exterior with six minarets that pierce the sky like giant needles. The frantic Grand Bazaar is a must with 4,000 covered shops, as the riot of colour and smells that is the Spice Market. Here you can buy Turkish Delight and a kebab or pop outside where fishermen sell hot mackerel sandwiches direct from their bobbling boats. If that doesn't tickle your tastebuds, cross the Galata Bridge to the modern district of Taksim with big stores and teeming nightlife. We went on a £45-a-head excursion for dinner, belly dancing and cabaret, which proved great fun. But then Istanbul is fun. It ranks among my favourite places. If you want to be picky, you could say that parts are faded but for me that just adds to its attraction.

And it certainly didn't burst my bubble.

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