We've tried several times to get to Istanbul but something has always came up to change the itinerary. Today we actually sailed into Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Blue Mosque
Golden Horn
Our dock was right at the Modern Art Museum. The roof serves as a wading pool for seagulls.
Site of the hippodrome, chariot races. Think NASCAR for Alexander the Great's people.
Egyptian Obelisk
German Fountain
Hagia Sophia
Interior of Hagia Sophia
Unusual for a large city, Istanbul is not located on a river, so fresh water is a concern. The Basilica Cistern was the answer. This is a large underground reservoir built by the Romans using repurposed columns from pagan temples. The water level is kept low now to allow touring, but when full it could hold nearly 3 million cubic feet of water.
We finished the first day's tour at the Grand Bazaar, but the heat and long day had worn us out. We joined the locals and sat on a bench waiting for the bus to take us back to the boat.
Day 2 in Istanbul: Our excursion is a boat trip along the Bosporus, the narrow ribbon of water connecting the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Street art
Sultan's Palace
Mosque
Fortress built at the narrowest part of the Bosporus controlling access to the Black Sea
We stopped in the tiny village of Kanlica on the Asian side. During a short walking tour we saw some interesting architectures.
Kanlica is known for their yogurt. We were offered a sample on the tour boat and to me it was just yogurt, but I'm not a connoisseur of cultured dairy products. I did, however, see a business opportunity I pitched to our tour guide. If Kanlica is known for its yogurt and I saw no frozen yogurt shops anywhere in Istanbul, the market is ripe for Kanlica FroYo. And I only want 10% for the idea.
One of the bridges connecting Europe and Asia. People commute daily from one continent to the other.
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