Turkey, Istanbul

On our flights from Dallas to Amsterdam and on to Istanbul, we noticed very few travelers wearing masks. We flew in a day early to help with jet lag and deflect any problems from potential flight delays.

The trip route in Turkey. We didn't sign up for the pre or post trip extensions. The countries official name is now
The Republic of Türkiye.

Istanbul is dissected by the Bosporus Strait. In this map, the city is in Europe to the west (left) of the Strait and in Asia to the east (right). Officially a town of 16 million, our guide said it's probably closer to 20 million people. Our hotel was about where the "n" in Istanbul is.

Our first evening, Sunday June 2, in Istanbul. We have a lovely meal at the Kaki Umbrella Cafe with Jason and Roberta who had flown in a day before we did. The Bosporus is in the background.

8:39pm Looking back towards the Blue Mosque from the Umbrella Cafe we can hear the evening call to prayer.

9:37am Our first room at the Sultanhmet Sarayi Hotel had this interesting but awkward shower which included this bowl that lacked a drain but did provide a metal dish to scoop up water for rinsing off. We asked to change rooms and were moved to one with a more conventional shower. Bonus- we're on the same floor and hallway as the rest of our group!

Our hotel entrance.

The Atrium in our hotel.

9:33 The Blue Mosque directly across from our hotel.

10:37 Near our hotel, we meet a local merchant who has a brother in Dallas! In the next photo you'll see Jason wearing the hat he purchased at this shop.

10:59 We stop to purchase tickets for an evening cruise.

11:16 We walk along the Bosphorus river which (interesting fact) is where Jason would take a swim after his early morning runs!

11:26 We pose in front of a sign that spells out Istanbul.

11:28am Pat and Linda in front of a water side restaurant where we had lunch.

12:17pm After lunch we walk back to our hotel along the Bosphorus and stop for this photo in the Sultenhamet area. (Roberta, Jason, Linda and Pat).

4:25pm We meet our trip leader Nurdan and the rest of our group. She gives us our schedule for the next day.

5:29pm Our evening dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. Plenty of bread.

6:08 Emerson, Linda and Pat after we finished dinner

7:07pm After dinner we meet up with Jason and Roberta to take our evening cruise on the Bosphorus. Our ticket.

7:29pm We pass by the cruise ship docked next to the cafe where we had lunch.

7:30 People are coming out for the evening.

8:02 Linda, Emerson and Pat on our cruise.

8:30 An important looking building.

8:32 Real estate along the strait is very expensive.

8:48 A mosque along our route.

8:48 The Maiden's Tower.

8:51 A view toward the Galata area of Istanbul.

8:56pm Pat and Linda with one of the three bridges that cross the Bosphoris in the background. This is the Sultan Mehmet bridge.

11:00 We've met our fellow travelers and had our Welcome Briefing after breakfast. Now we head to visit the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Ayasofya Cami in Turkish). It was a Greek Orthodox churck from AD360 to 1453 except for a brief use as a Catholic church during the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) to 1261. From 1453 to 1935 it was a mosque and then was a museum until 2020 when it once again became a mosque.

11:13 We visit parts of the mosque that are open to non-muslims. We all had to have shoulders and knees covered and women had to cover their hair.

11:13 One of many decorative elements.

11:18 The main dome still has some Christian images from the time when it was a church.

11:29 A young guard had decided Roberta didn't have her knees sufficiently covered. Nurdan said she met the requirements and convinced the guard to let her in and she would keep her knees covered.

11:29 Non-Muslims can only tour the second level. Below us is the first level where Muslims may visit and pray.

11:36 Christian symbols like these crosses have been removed.

11:39 Partially destroyed Christian mosaics.

11:45 This one is largely intact.

11:45 About the above mosaic.

11:58 This mosaic is above an entryway (we exited here). They can pull a cover over the Christion Icon above this entrance to the mosque during prayers.

Relates to the mosaic above the entryway.

12:09 Nearby the Hagia Sophia we ate lunch at "The Pudding Shop", a place Marilyn had been to circa 1995 and it's just as she remembered it!

12:10 Our group orders here at this window.

12:11 We collect our food and then eat inside at 2 long tables. Good meal!

After lunch we head to explore the Basilica Underground Cistern.

1:24pm Our first look into the Cistern.

1:39 Built in the 6th century The Cistern is approximately 453 ft by 213 ft and supported by 336 thirty foot marble columns.

1:43 A reused piece of marble. There are two medusa heads used as column supports. The Romans reused a lot of material and nobody would see this at the bottom of a cistern.

1:46 Several artwork installations are in the cistern. In the background a medusa character is spotlighted. Marilyn is snapping a photo as Stephen and Chris are getting their's taken.

1:52PM An interesting art piece.

1:55PM Group photo

1:57PM Another art piece.

1:59 A final view of the cistern. There is a shallow layer of water with metal walkways. At one time boats were used to show people around. The water is now needed to keep the stone work properly moistened.

2:10 Nurdan tells us all about the Hippodrome of Constantiople which was once a sporting and social center in the old city.

2:14 The German Fountain. Gazebo styled and built in Germany in 1898, it was transported piece by piece to Istanbul in 1900 and relocated here in the Hippodrome.

2:18 Here's our group walking along the length of the Hippodrome toward the Obelisk.

2:29 The Obelisk of Theodosius is the Ancient Egypt obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first erected during the 18th dynasty of Egypt. It was re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople by the Roman emperor Thedosius I in the 4th Century AD. About 30 feet of this structure is missing.

2:28 The base shows how it was originally erected in Egypt.

2:31 Also in the Hippodrome is the Serpentine Column, an ancient bronze column that depicts three intertwined snakes.

2:34 The Walled Obelisk or Masonry Obelisk is a Roman monument and the last major structure we visit along the Hippodrome.

Around 3:20 We visit the Grand Bazaar. Nurdan advised we not wander too far from the main central walkway as it's easy to get turned around given the multiple entrances.

3:36 Turkish towels for sale.

4:10pm This merchant is smiling from the profit he made on the box of Turkish Delights he sold us. We found much better prices later. However, his were very tasty!

4:18 So many people! BTW, that red/white/blue cooling neck bandana Emerson is sporting was a gift each of us received from Marilyn and Rolla (who put this OAT trip together)!

7:44 In the evening, we walk to dinner for fine dining on the second floor of the Deraliye Terrace Restaurant. It had a great view of the Hagia Sofia.

7:59 The food was excellent!

8:54 Jason, Nurdan and Roberta as we head back to our hotel after dinner.

7:32am The back of our hotel had a lovely breakfast dining spot that overlooked the Sea of Marmara.

8:06 Inside the dining area where our buffet styled breakfast was served each morning.

8:44 After breakfast, we head to see the Blue Mosque. Officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque it was built between 1609 and 1617. It has 6 minarets which signify its status as a very important mosque.

8:52 Two of the six minarets up close.

9:02am Inside the Mosque.

9:05 Nurdan beckons to a cat inside the Blue Mosque. We see a lot of stray cats in Istanbul.

9:05 The Blue Mosque get its nickname from the millions of turquoise tiles that decorate the vast interior.

9:06 Nordan points out that women are only allowed to pray in the women's section at the back of the mosque, not in this more public area. Our feminist trip leader is likely proud of these female risk takers! (We didn't see any officials take notice of them.)

9:09 The beautiful ceiling.

9:15 A view of the central dome.

9:16 One of many group shots taken on our trip.

9:18 Leaving the Blue Mosque.

9:22 The courtyard of the mosque.

9:42 Roberta near Tour Police booth.

Next we go to the Topkapi Palace

9:46 We follow out leader!

A relief map of the overall grounds.

9:59 We continue to the Palace.

A relief map of inside the palace grounds.

A google image of the palace. The Topkapi Palace once served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. It is now a museum.

At one time the Ottoman Empire was huge. It was dismantled after WWI as the Empire picked the wrong side in the war. Turkey was then formed and continues today.

10:02 We are in the central courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.

10:02 A overview of the palace.

10:40 We begin our tour of the Palace by visiting the Imperial Treasury. A list of some of the items we will see.

10:45 One of many display cases. Here are some "everyday" items.

10:48 Spoonmakers's Diamond from the Second half of the 17th Century - Ottoman - this pear shaped diamond weighs 86 carats and sits in a gold mount and is surrounded by 49 diamonds.

10:49 Treasury Balcony

10:55 The balcony overlooks the heavily used Bosphorus strait.

10:50 Treasury Balcony - Pat

10:57 Treasury Balcony - Emerson and Linda

10:59 The Topkapi Dagger of Mahmud I. The dagger was the object of a 1964 Hollywood capper comedy.

We pass through this room as we make our way out of the Imperial Treasury Building.

11:20 Next we visit the Relics Building

11:25 Staff of the Prophet Moses. 13c BCE. Truly a miracle wood can last so long!

11:26 And steel doesn't rust away.

11:27 The prophet Muhammad's footprint. Really?

11:45 After the Relics Building we visit the Harem.

12:14 We begin the tour of the Harem by first visiting the Sultan's Hamam (bathhouse)

12:19 The Hamam.

Video of the Hamam.

The Imperial Hall described.

12:20 The Imperial Hall.

12:21 The Sultan's easy chair.

Video of Imperial Hall.

12:23 The walls in the Imperial Hall are beautiful and Nurdan urges that we look at them up close.

12:23 And we do.

12:25 Yet another large room in the Harem.

12:28 Our group walking to another section of the Harem.

12:32 Black eunchs were employed in the Harem.

12:43 Confectionery Kitchen is our next stop in the Harem.

Confectionery Kitchen.

Confectionery Kitchen.

A representation of a confectionery chef.

Roberta checking out one of the many displays of beautiful dinner and cookware.

1:08pm As we begin to leave the Palace area, one last look at the pretty grounds.

1:20 We walk the streets of Istanbul and look for a place to have a bite.

2:12 It's good to stop for a break and get off our feet.

2:12 Some are camera shy!

2:46 Heading into the spice market.

Video of the spice market.

Nuts and Turkish delight displays.

2:58 Two of the spice markets main intersecting corridors.

3:08 A spice shop with a sense of humor.

3:51 We reprise the Bosporous boat tour - this time with the entire OAT group.

3:51 Views of Istanbul from the cruise.

4:04 More views.

Group cruise photo. 4:08

5:31 We pass by more markets after departing our cruise. First this vegetable market....

5:31 ...and then this fish market.

8:58pm Finishing our evening with martinis and dinner at the Four Seasons. Emerson, Linda, Roberta, Jason and Phil.

Outside the Four Seasons. A nice way to end our last evening in Instanbul!

9:02 Some facts about Turkey. Pg 1

9:02 Pg 2

9:02 Pg 3

9:02 Pg 4

9:15 Useful Turkish Words.

One last look at the Hagia Sophia at night. 9:26