Amazing Istanbul

Blue Mosque with six minarets

Istanbul is one of my all time favorite places.  The history is so rich, well preserved and openly on display.  The Roman Empire, Alexander the Great, Constantine, Byzantine, Ottoman Empire, Sultans and grand viziers come alive all around you. In addition to the incredible structures they built through the ages, they "acquired" artifacts during their conquests around the region and brought back to Istanbul. It's not unusual to see relics that are 3,000-5,000 years old!!

Iznik tulip tiles

Mosques and palaces seem to be everywhere and are just breath taking in their scale.  Scott and I literally spent an entire day touring just the Topkapi Palace, the center for governance during parts of the Ottoman Empire. At it's peak, 10,000 people a day were fed at Topkapi Palace. It had a Harem with over 1,000 concubines, 300 rooms, a school and a hospital.  Topkapi Palace is home to the Staff of Moses, the hand of John the Baptist, King David's sword, and the Prophet Mohammed's mantle (cape) along with his hair and impressions of his footprint.

The city was established in 667 BC and was known as Constantinople until Ottoman Empire took over in the 1,400s (AD). Today the city is incredibly diverse and walking down the street you will see women in full burkas, headscarves and western clothes.

Typical street scene

Istanbul-Bosphorus in background

Istanbul straddles the continents of Europe and Asia which are separated by the Bosphorus, a natural waterway between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea (and Mediterranean Sea). The Bosphorus made Istanbul easily defensible and wealthy because of its importance for the trade of wine and olive oil from the Mediterranean region for grain, skins, wool and timber from the Black Sea region (Russia). On an hourly basis, the Bosohorus changes its mood from black to emerald green and glacial blue.

Egyptian obelisk from 3,000BC at one end of the
Hippodrome where they had chariot races.

Inside Suleymaniye mosque

Haghia Sophia was built as a church in 537AD
by Emperor Justinian.  It is considered one of the
greatest architectural achievements in the world.
  In the 15th century it was converted into a mosque.

Byzantine mosaic fresco from 1,300 AD