After visiting the Blue Mosque and Santa Sofia we went to an underground cistern. This place was hugh. This picture shows the entrance going down. the next is a picture along one of the rows of columns supporting the ceiling. For lunch we went to a restaurant overlooking the Blue Mosque, Santa Sofis and Topkapi Palace, which we were to see that afternoon.
The Blue MosqueSanta SofiaThis is a panoramic view from the restaurant.
Also from the restaurant we could see the Black Sea entrance to the Bosphorus. We learned that the Bosphorus is a one-way channel for the large ocean going ships. That the entrance will be filled with ships waiting for the time that they can travel up the Strait. After lunch we visited the Topkapi Palace, the seat of power of the Ottoman Sultans/Caliphs. Here is the entrance to the outer courtyards.
The palace.
These next two are scenes of the grounds, they were really beautiful. We saw council ministers rooms and multiple treasure of the empire. We learned about how the court worked. It has all been well preserved. Unfortantely we were not allowed to take pictures of the treasures or inside the rooms. On the drive to the hotel we saw this ancient aquaduct. That night went out on our own with friends Martha and George Grover, and Kurt and Fran Robertson. We had dinner at an outdoor cafe up the street from the hotel. We had such a great time that we returned there for dinner on our last night in Istanbul before we left for home.
For lunch we went to a restaurant overlooking the Blue Mosque, Santa Sofis and Topkapi Palace, which we were to see that afternoon.
The Blue Mosque
Santa Sofia
This is a panoramic view from the restaurant.
Also from the restaurant we could see the Black Sea entrance to the Bosphorus. We learned that the Bosphorus is a one-way channel for the large ocean going ships. That the entrance will be filled with ships waiting for the time that they can travel up the Strait.
After lunch we visited the Topkapi Palace, the seat of power of the Ottoman Sultans/Caliphs. Here is the entrance to the outer courtyards.
The palace.
These next two are scenes of the grounds, they were really beautiful.
We saw council ministers rooms and multiple treasure of the empire. We learned about how the court worked. It has all been well preserved. Unfortantely we were not allowed to take pictures of the treasures or inside the rooms. On the drive to the hotel we saw this ancient aquaduct.
That night went out on our own with friends Martha and George Grover, and Kurt and Fran Robertson. We had dinner at an outdoor cafe up the street from the hotel. We had such a great time that we returned there for dinner on our last night in Istanbul before we left for home.
No comments:
Post a Comment