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After Ankara, we took a bus to Istanbul. The scenery was beautiful on the way.
After Ankara, we took a bus to Istanbul. The scenery was beautiful on the way.
Here we crossed the Bosphorus into European Istanbul.
Here we crossed the Bosphorus into European Istanbul.
Our hotel was in the Sultanahmet area, next to the Blue Mosque.
Our hotel was in the Sultanahmet area, next to the Blue Mosque.
Inside the Blue Mosque. It was beautiful, but too many tourists.
Inside the Blue Mosque. It was beautiful, but too many tourists.
On the other side of the Mosque is the Egyptian Obelisk.
On the other side of the Mosque is the Egyptian Obelisk.
The Aya Sofia was just short a walk away.
The Aya Sofia was just short a walk away.
Inside the Blue Mosque
Inside the Blue Mosque
This is the "weeping column" inside the Aya Sofia. Legend has it that if you twist your finger around in the hole in the column and it becomes wet, your wish will come true.
This is the "weeping column" inside the Aya Sofia. Legend has it that if you twist your finger around in the hole in the column and it becomes wet, your wish will come true.
he Aya Sofia was first a Church, then a Mosque, then Attaturk turned it into a Museum.
he Aya Sofia was first a Church, then a Mosque, then Attaturk turned it into a Museum.
The underground cisterns were originally built in 532. It was lost for a thousand year, when it was re-discovered and used to water the gardens of the Topkapi Palace.
The underground cisterns were originally built in 532. It was lost for a thousand year, when it was re-discovered and used to water the gardens of the Topkapi Palace.
These medusas heads, one put sideways and the other upside town, support pillars at the far end of the cistern. No one is quite sure why they are there.
These medusas heads, one put sideways and the other upside town, support pillars at the far end of the cistern. No one is quite sure why they are there.
We visited the Topkapi Palace. It was beautiful but almost bankrupted us.
We visited the Topkapi Palace. It was beautiful but almost bankrupted us.
This picture of a ceiling was taken outside the Divan in the palace.
This picture of a ceiling was taken outside the Divan in the palace.
This is one of the gates.
This is one of the gates.
We toured the Harem inside the Palace.
We toured the Harem inside the Palace.
The Palace overlooks the Bosphorus. In the distance you can see the bridge we crossed over on.
The Palace overlooks the Bosphorus. In the distance you can see the bridge we crossed over on.
We took the ferry over to Kadikoy to do some shopping.
We took the ferry over to Kadikoy to do some shopping.
The sun was setting as we came back to the European side.
The sun was setting as we came back to the European side.