Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, is unique among the cities of the world, having one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. We went rented 7 taxis and made our way to the Bosphorus Bridge and were already in the Asian part of Istanbul!!!
Bosphorus bridge
We treated ourselves turkish coffee and tea in a small restaurant, and were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place.
Istanbul is Turkey's economic capital and biggest trade center, home to nearly half of the country's wealth.
Much of Istanbul is hilly and especially in the old part many of the streets are steep and narrow. This big city spread over seven hills and surrounded on three sides by water and it is atonishingly beautiful.
A must see in Istanbul is the BLUE MOSQUE. We had the opportunity to visit during during prayer time to watch the powerful Muslim prayer ritual. The mosque is lit by thousands of lanterns and has amazing ceiling frescoes. It has beutiful stained glass windows which look ethereal in the light of the lanterns. The burgundy carpet looks royal.
The mosque is lit by thousands of lanterns and has amazing ceiling frescoes. It has beutiful stained glass windows which look ethereal in the light of the lanterns. The burgundy carpet looks royal.
The Hagia Sophia,
Hagia Sophia, now known as the Ayasofya Museum, was an early Christian Church and later an Eastern Orthodox church which was transformed into a mosque in 1453 by the Turks, and converted into a museum in 1935. I It is regularly considered one of the greatest and most beautiful buildings in history.
Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox faithful.
The Hagia Sophia,
Hagia Sophia, now known as the Ayasofya Museum, was an early Christian Church and later an Eastern Orthodox church which was transformed into a mosque in 1453 by the Turks, and converted into a museum in 1935. I It is regularly considered one of the greatest and most beautiful buildings in history.
Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox faithful.
Hagia Sophia
Mosaic in Hagia Sophia: Virgin Mary
The Old Market,
The busy market attracted our students. From leather jackets, scarfs, colourful lamps to jellewery....they wanted it all! They learned how to bargain to get a good price! we spent hours in the labyrinth of goodies and ended up eating a Kebab and drinking tea!!!
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