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Three Days in Istanbul
Photo Essay written 4 May 2008
After our flight from Boston to Paris then on to Istanbul we were ready to take in as many sights as we could possibly fit in our three days before we sailed the Aegean.
Topkapi
Istanbul, Turkey
05/20/07
Topkapi Palace was completed in 1465 by Mehmet II, the conquerer of Constantinople. Sultan Mecit I abandoned Topkapi in 1853 in favor of Dolmabahce Palace. It opened to the public as a museum in 1927. Structures with names like the Harem, the Courtyard of the Black Eunucks, the Imperial Hall, and the Treasury it's easy to see why this is a favorite of tourists. Konyali Restaurant is located on the premises with a killer view of the Bosphorus.
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Cho Turkish Delights
Istanbul, Turkey
05/20/07
No trip to Istanbul would be complete without some Turkish delight and places like Cho Delight will not disappoint. But beware, there might be a dozen pieces in those boxes.
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Bosphorus yali
Arnavutköy, Turkey
05/20/07
If you get a chance to take a cruise of the Bosphorus between Boğaziçi Köprüsü (Bosphorus Bridge) and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Köprüsü (Bridge) don't pass it up. There are picturesque fishing villages, palaces, mosques, forts, and yali (villas) for your eyes to behold.
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Grand Bazaar
Istanbul, Turkey
05/19/07
Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar) was established by Mehmet II shortly after his conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The place is truly grand in scale, so beware, it's easy to get lost in there. The Şark Kahvesi (Oriental Café) is a traditional Turkish café popular with local bazaar traders.
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Punto of Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
05/19/07
Visitors often fall in love with at least one Turkish carpet from the many to be seen in the Grand Bazaar or one of the many dealers like Punto. Many are true works of art. Like Turkish delights, it's buyer beware.
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Sultanahmet Camii
Istanbul, Turkey
05/19/07
Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) was completed in 1616 and is famous for the blue iznik tile that covers it's inside walls and ceilings. It was quite controversial when it was built because it's six minarets were considered asacrilegious attempt to rival the Great Mosque of al-Haram in Mecca. (Most mosques were only permitted to have one minaret, Imperial mosques could have two.)
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Haghia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey
05/19/07
Aya Sofya (Haghia Sophia) was built by Justinian in 537. For almost a thousand years it was the largest church in the world. After Constantinople fell to the Turks it was converted to a mosque and later a museum. Its mammoth dome rises 184 feet into the air-the Statue of Liberty could easily fit inside. Many of it's famed gold mosaics can still be seen.
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John Linton has been a member since 17 April 2008 and goes by ride0583.
Currently in sufferable.
I am a retired secondary teacher (32 years) who spent his childhood developing his skills as a military brat while the family moved from one location to another. I attended Gorham State College to avoid the draft, somehow graduated with a teaching degree in the Social Studies, was hired by the Westerly School Department in 1970, and have lived in Westerly, RI ever since. When people ask me what I do now I tell them "Nothing," but I do dabble in photography and travel whenever I can.
You can also find John at www.jpgmag.com/people/ride0583.
