Our stay in Istanbul started with a wonderful dinner served the evening we arrived, after our introductory meeting with all the people on the tour and our guide – Ilke Duru. The food was the beginning of what we would experience almost every day…
The next morning was much the same, food wise. We were treated to a breakfast buffet like none I have seen before. Cheeses, breads, fruits, and everything in between, nicely displayed. There was a full on honey-comb hung up where you just took a knife and sliced off a piece… delicious!
After breakfast we were herded onto our tour bus and taken up to the top of a hill overlooking the Bosporus. Here we visited the Sultanahmet Square and the Blue Mosque. The square is now a public park where a 2nd century hippodrome once stood. Next to it is the entrance to the Sultanahmet Camii or Blue Mosque.
The Blue Mosque is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. It is very beautiful inside.
A short walk away is another very large mosque that started out back in the 2nd century as a Christian church – Hagia Sophia. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and again, is very ornate and beautiful inside.
After all that, we had a lunch break, but Giselle and I opted first to have a look at the Basilica Cistern, as it was only a short walk from the Hagia Sophia mosque. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.
Next up was lunch! We settled for a small cafe near the exit to the cistern. The food options were fantastic and we enjoyed a nice meal with the other members of our tour group.
After lunch, we walked down towards the Topkapi Palace Museum. From the 1460s to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and was the main residence of its sultans. We endured large crowds and chose to see only the displays with the smaller crowds. We did visit the treasury and the armory. Some beautiful jewelery on display, including an 86 Carat diamond and a ton of Ottoman era weapons.
The museum itself is situated on a hill overlooking the Bosphorus. The views of Istanbul were awesome!
Once the tour was over, we were bussed back to our hotel and enjoyed another fantastic dinner.