Modern day Turkey
ISTANBUL
page 3

MAY 2004

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a panorama from a roof top restaurant with the Blue Mosque to the right, St Sophia in the center, and Topkapi Palace to the left.  Our hotel was behind the building behind Gloria's head.   The yellow building is a tourist police building.
Sultanahmet from restaurant

From the back side of the restaurant is this panorama looking across the Golden Horn.  The Domabahcha Palace is just about in the middle of the photo.
Bosphorus

Again from the roof restaurant, a hotel and shops across the street.

The Galata Tower, used as a look-out during ancient times.  There is an elevator in it now, so we went to the top.
colorful hotel Galata Tower
Looking north from the tower, can see the sky scrappers of the business area of Istanbul, as well as the suspension bridge which connects Asia with Europe.
business district in distance europe and asia meet
Looking down at  Suleyman the Magnificent's mosque and the Golden Horn
panorama of golden horn

Looking to the south, the Golden Horn in the foreground, the Bosphorus to the left, with Asia to the far left.  The Blue Mosque, the St. Sophia, and Topkapi Palace on the horizon in the middle.
panorama of Sultanahmet district
Looking down at an alley, and then looking at the mouth of the alley.
alley Dodge truck in alley

A street that we walked down from the Galata Tower.

They went out in the morning to catch the fish, then for lunch they BBQ it and serve fish sandwiches.
cobbled street fishing boat serving lunch

These are the Basilica Cistern, also known as the Sunken Palace, this vast, cathedral-like, underground chamber was built in 532 A.D. to store water for the city.  The huge domed ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns; two of which rest on enormous marble Medusa heads that were taken from an ancient site in Asia Minor.  No one seems to know why these 2 heads are in different directions or the significance of the display.

Restoration work began in the late 1980's and there is a small amount of water in the cistern supporting life for a few fish.

The photo blow is called the "crying column" because of what appears to be eyes in the green algae.

 Basilica Cestern
green crying eye column ceiling in cistern

The 2 Medusas, one on her side, the other upside down.  Someone must really have been upset with her at one time or another...
Medusa on her side Medusa up side down

The 2 carpets that we bought in Istanbul, the small one we kept, and gave the other to Gloria's brother and his wife.

Ahmet became a dear friend, honest, caring, friendly, with a ready smile, and a kind word.  We enjoyed his company at our last meal in Istanbul, and look forward to our next meeting, regardless of which side of the ocean.
Ahmet and associate holding our new carpets enjoying our last meal
The sun setting behind the Blue Mosque.
sun set

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