Asia
China
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s stunning Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque built between 1609 and 1616 when the Ottoman Empire reigned over the Middle East. It is a fully functional mosque, but millions have visited it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Istanbul on a glorious fall morning. This is one of my favorite cities. Rich in history and architecture, fascinating people, and so alive it makes you vibrate.
Hagia Sophia: Simply one of the great architectural wonders of the world. Originally created 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople by Emperor Justinian I. Renovations were underway when we visited in 2015, but it is now currently closed.
The magnificent ceiling of the Hagia Sophia.
Visitors explore the floor of the great mosque/cathedral.
This Egyptian obelisk was originally erected by Pharaoh Thutmose III nearly 3,000 years ago at the great temple of Karnak. The Roman emperor Constantius II then had it transported 1,350 years later to Alexandria. Fifty years after that it was moved again to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius I (379–395 AD) where it now resides just outside both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. It gives you a whole new perspective on “ancient.”
This is the lobby of the famous Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. It was created specifically for those planning to travel on the Orient Express train that travelled from Istanbul to London (the train was transported by barge across the English Channel). I could almost see Hercule Poirot (if he existed) walking by as we had a drink.
Another view of the Pera Palace Hotel.
Every day hundreds of people fish along the bridge that spans two ancient sides of the great city – the Golden Horn. We walked the bridge many times and I simply loved watching as people talked, joked and took home some good fish for dinner.
This is the view across the Golden Horn looking at the old city and the spire that rises at its peak – the famous Galata Tower built in 1348 by Genoese merchants. The view of the city from the top is magnificent.
And here is the view overlooking the Golden Horn which rolls majestically into the Bosphorus, the border that both separates, and connects, Europe and Asia.
Every day thousands and thousands buy and sell in this immense and ancient marketplace on one of Istanbul's seven hills - the gateway to the Silk Road.
Not far from the Galata Tower is Istiqlal (Independence) Street in the heart of old Istanbul, long and rambunctious, alive with food, music, people and conversation.
The slim, beautiful tram that runs back and forth through Istiqlal Street