As many of you know, I am traveling. After a 12-hour flight, I am in Istanbul, Turkey. I am traveling for the next month. Two weeks in Turkey and then on to Croatia.
I realize that not everyone is on social media, so…..I decided to create a travel log on my blog for the next month. People want to see pictures. It might be a little less writing and a few more pictures.
After much debate, I decided to travel with only my cell phone and challenge myself to take good photos. I definitely am traveling lighter. I shall see how this experiment progresses.
Enjoy the photos.
First night in Istanbul.
The first full day, we had a walking tour of Istanbul with her very informative guide. Saw many churches and mosques. The oldest Catholic Church in Turkey and an Anglican church.
Day 2 – Istanbul Walking Tour
Day 3 – Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia Mosque.
Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, was the primary residence and administrative center for Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years, serving as a governmental, educational, and art center before becoming a museum in 1924. It showcases imperial collections, including the treasury (with the Topkapi Dagger and Spoonmaker’s Diamond), sacred relics, imperial robes, and manuscripts, all housed within its extensive courtyards, pavilions, and the Harem. The palace complex is a major historical site, offering a glimpse into the opulent life of the Ottoman court.
Hagia Sophia is a monumental architectural marvel in Istanbul, Turkey, renowned for its massive central dome and rich 1,500-year history. Completed in 537 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it has transitioned from an Eastern Orthodox cathedral to an imperial mosque, a museum, and, as of 2020, a working mosque once again.
Finally we were let loose in the Spice Bazaar.
No visit to Istanbul is complete without stopping by the atmospheric Spice Bazaar. While the Grand Bazaar may be the largest and most famous of Istanbul’s covered bazaars, this spice market wins the prize for being the most colorful, fragrant, and often the most fun – as visitors can taste the goods on offer.
Built in 1664, as part of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex, it is known in Turkish as Mısır Çarşısı, and sometimes translated to “Egyptian Bazaar” or “Corn Market” (mısır means both Egypt and corn in Turkish).
Day 4 – Our last full day in Istanbul we visited The Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar
The Blue Mosque (officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey, is an architectural masterpiece constructed between 1609 and 1616. Renowned for its cascading domes, six soaring minarets, and interior walls adorned with over 20,000 handcrafted blue İznik tiles, it remains a fully active place of worship.
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul, Türkiye, is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, a historic labyrinth with over 4,000 shops across 61 streets, selling goods like jewelry, ceramics, textiles, spices, and Turkish delights. It’s a major tourist attraction known for its vibrant atmosphere, traditional Turkish craftsmanship, and the necessity of bargaining, operating Monday through Saturday from morning until evening, and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Whew that is a lot of info.
Here is one more photo before I post this. Istanbul is known as a city of cats. They are fed and well loved by the locals.
