Map of Istanbul

Map of Istanbul showing the European part and the Asian part, the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus Strait, and the Golden Horn. Istanbul is much bigger than what is shown of it on the map. Istanbul has a population is almost 14 million.

Numbers on the map:

1. Sultanahmet, where the Old City, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia,  and also my hotel is located.

2. Seraglio Point, where Topkapi Palace is located.

3. The Bazaar Quarter, where the Grand Bazaar is located.

4. The Galata Bridge which connects 1, 2, and 3 with Beyoglu.

5. The Bosphorus Bridge, connecting Europe with Asia.

6. Taksim Square.

7. Galata Tower.

I was in or on all but Seraglio Point on my trips around Istanbul.

Breakfast at the Best Point Hotel

The breakfast room was one flight up from my third floor room. Another winding staircase. I missed having breakfast here yesterday as I left the hotel earlier than the time breakfast was served. A breakfast sandwich and coffee was brought to me in my room. Many dishes to choose from here including fudge––great breakfast food!––freshly squeezed orange juice, all kinds of cheese, etc.

View from the Restaurant Terrace

It was warm enough to sit outside. What a view. It was hard to believe I was eating breakfast looking at the Blue Mosque. I loved it!

View from the Restaurant Terrace

To the right, in the back, you can make out the Hagia Sophia.

View from the Restaurant Terrace

In the other direction, I think that is the Sea of Marmara, not the Bosphorus Strait. Some of the other hotels in the Old City have similar terraces but some do not. You have to check individual hotels as to what, if anything, their breakfast rooms overlook.

My Breakfast

Plus orange juice and coffee. Delicious.

Walking Around the Old City

I had the morning free and walked a bit around the Old City. I thought that I might become lost as one hilly road led into another. The streets are all cobblestoned. Photo: More of the old homes converted into hotels.

Walking Around the Old City

Another hotel which seems to have a terrace on top of it.

Walking Around the Old City

Many small restaurants here.

Walking Around the Old City

A very pretty street with restaurants, stores, and hotels.

Walking Around the Old City

Fish restaurant on the corner.

Walking Around the Old City

I next followed the tourists up this street. I assumed they were going to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque and knew the way up.

Abasta Bazaar

I walked around the bazaar and visited it two days later. It had many shops––mainly for the tourists.

Abasta Bazaar

View from the hill on the side of the bazaar with the harems numbered. Sounds exotic.

The Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is called the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles decorating its inside. It was built from 1609 to 1616. It is still used as a mosque.

The Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia was built in 330 AD by Constantine the Great, the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. He founded the city of Constantinople, now Istanbul, and built the Hagia Sophia (“Church of the Holy Wisdom of God”). This church burned down by a rioting crowd in 404 AD. A second church was built in 415, which was burned down in a rebellion in 532 AD. Very soon after, Emperor Justinian built a third church with a series of domes and half domes in the Byzantine style: mixture of Greek and Roman architecture with Asian/Oriental influences. It was the largest cathedral in the world for about 1,000 years.

In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed and converted into a mosque. In 1934, Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, turned the Hagia Sophia into a museum and uncovered the early Christian mosaics.

The Hagia Sophia is separated from the Blue Mosque by a small park.

The Hagia Sophia

Even though I had already been to both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, I was thinking of seeing them again until I saw the line for the Hagia Sophia. I already took photos of the inside of both of them when I was here before. See

http://www.peggysphotos.com/day–19–istanbul/   from page 4

(Albums, Western Europe, Greece/Turkey, Oct. 12–Nov. 5, 2005(B), “Day 9, Istanbul,” from page 4).

The best way to see both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque is by joining a tour to them. I was told that the tour groups go right in and do not have to wait in line.

Big Bus Istanbul

There were two Big Buses here with two different routes. I was surprised to see them as their website said they weren’t operating in the month of April. One of the routes would take me to Taksim Square where I was to meet a tour guide later. This is the route I took.

Crossing the Galata Bridge on the Big Bus

The Galata Bridge connects the Sultanahmet, Seraglio Point, and Bazaar Quarter with the Beyoglu area. Many people were fishing off the bridge.

Crossing the Bosphorus Strait

Crossing the Bosphorus Strait on the Bosphorus Bridge which links Europe with Asia.

For the photos I took from the Big Bus, go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/big–bus–istanbul/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Turkey, “Big Bus Istanbul”).

Taksim Square

I got off the Big Bus at Taksim Square. This is the main square of “modern Istanbul” and it is also where protests are held. I was to meet my tour guide here for an Istanbul Food and Culture Tour. I had some time before the tour to walk around the square. Photo: a kebap restaurant.

Istikal Caddesi

I met my tour guide and we walked down the pedestrian street of Istikal Caddesi, a center for entertainment and shopping.

Istanbul Food and Culture Tour

Food at a pastry/candy shop on the tour.

Istanbul Food and Culture Tour

Food at a kebap restaurant on the tour.

For my photos of both Taksim Square and my Istanbul Food and Culture Tour, go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/taksim–square–food–culture–tour/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Turkey, “Taksim Square & Food & Culture Tour”).

Istanbul by Night

I went back to my hotel after the Food and Culture Tour to get ready to be picked up for another tour: “Istanbul by Night: Turkish Dinner and Show.” Photo: the boat that we went on.

Istanbul by Night

The Bosphorus Bridge lit up at night.

Istanbul at Night

The Hagia Sophia lit up at night.

Istanbul at Night

We had a belly dancer as entertainment on our cruise. For a movie of her dance, go to Movies, Europe: Central/Eastern Europe Movies, page 13.

Istanbul by Night

We also had folk dancers as entertainment on our cruise. For a movie, go to Movies, Europe: Central/Eastern Europe Movies, page 13.

For photos of the Istanbul by Night cruise, go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/istanbul–at–night/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Turkey, “Istanbul by Night”).