Istanbul not Constantinople…

by | Jun 25, 2015 | Asia, Blog posts, Europe | 1 comment

Does anyone even remember that song??

Istanbul is blowing my mind. It’s been a long time since a city did that.

Why am I here? A girl called Laura and a bike called Doris cycled 4,300+ km’s across Europe and so we decided to celebrate with a week in Istanbul. Angela and Elmar were also part of the crew. This made me so happy – worlds colliding.

Group shot 2

Super proud of her. 

I am so lucky to be able to spend a week in this incredible city. It is honestly one of the best cities I have been to. It is like nowhere I have been before. Sure, I am looking at it though tourist eyes and after awhile some of the ‘charming’ things may get a little annoying but for me it was fantastic. 

It was an incredibly hard job choosing photos and I’m not sure I have been quite tough enough, but it is such a photographers dream place!  

Hanging lamp

There were stunning ceramic lamps hanging from the ceiling of cafes where people would drink Turkish coffee or apple tea. Donor kebabs or hommus on every menu. Mosques everywhere, including the world famous ‘Blue’ Mosque and Hagia Sofia. There were whirling dervish shows and rooftop bars overlooking the Bosphorus.

lamps
 
Tea set

 

Tea
 
Man serving tea
 
With the city spread across 2 continents (Asia and Europe) it really adds another element. Palaces and mosques adorn the banks of the sea in between and houses sprawl all the way to the ocean. 
 
Laura on rooftop
(In Europe overlooking Asia)
 
Mosque on the Bosphorus
 
Dolmabahce Palace
 
(Dolmabahce Palace)

 

Group shot at Dolmabahce Palace
 
(Elmar and his girls)
 
Old palace on river


City and mosque 2

 

Cruise ship and the city

And then there is the history.

Walking into the Hagia Sofia is literally breathtaking. Built in 537 it was originally a church then converted to a mosque. On the walls are verses from the Quaran as well as Christian iconography. Fascinating!

Hagia Sofia 2

 

Hagia Sofia 1


E and H in Hagia Sofia

 

H in Hagia Sofia

 

Literally opposite Hagia Sofia is the Blue Mosque, famous throughout the world and know for it’s beautiful blue tiles that line the walls inside. 
 
Outside blue mosque

 

Inside blue mosque

 

Inside Blue Mosque 2

 

Headscaves in blue mosque
 
(Appropriately dressed)
Still in the theme of history we visited the Basilica Cistern, built in the 500’s and used to hold the city’s water supply….well, the water supply for the Sultan’s palaces. 
Basilica Cistern

 

Head in Basilica Cistern

 

Looking up Basilica Cistern
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Archway Basilica Cistern
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No trip to Istanbul would be complete without visiting the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. WOW!
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Grand Bazar

 

E at Grand Bazaar
(Elmar made friends while the girls tried on shoes)

 

A and L at Grand Bazaar

 

Entrance spice market Istanbul

 

To make life interesting we visited a hamam, a turkish bathhouse. We chose the oldest one in town (started in 1454) where I was stripped down and steamed, washed, scrubbed, foamed and massaged by naked Turkish ladies. 
Aga Hamam

 

Aga Hamam 2
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Aga Hamam 3
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Angela at Aga Hamam
And then there was the rest of it. Fish sandwiches on the water, wine under the bridge, sunsets, boat trips, raki (don’t try it!), shisha, Gallipoli (another post), ancient architecture and great friends. 


Laura eating fish burger
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H and L with wine
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Group shot at blue mosque
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IMG_6740

Istanbul, I love you!

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