Istanbul

A late post about my trip to Istanbul at the end of Feb.

Being my first time in an Islamic country, I found it fascinating. The sights were so beautiful. We had such a good time exploring the mosques and markets, and sampling the Turkish cuisine. One of the highlights was the cruise down the Bosphorous, the strait that forms the boundary between the European part of Turkey and its Asian part. It was a perfect blue-skied morning and the views were breathtaking.

Other noteworthy mentions - tasting proper turkish delight for the first time (so much better than the ones found in the 'Cadbury chocolate selection'), apple tea, Hookah - I loved the Hookah, Turkish baths which is better described as a sauna with hot marble slabs, and the friendly, or should I say over-friendly, locals.

Left to right, top to bottom:
1. Beautiful night view
2. Mustafa smoking apple-flavored hookah
3. Mosaic inside Hagia Sophia, it's very interesting in that both symbols of the Christian and Muslim religions can be found throughout the building
4. Blue Mosque - I think it's absolutely stunning
5. Hagia Sophia from across the beautiful park that lies between Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
6, 7, 8. Topkapi Palace
9. Mustafa & I at lunch
10. There were lots of shops selling pretty lights, glass-mosaic candle holders and tapestry
11. Outside the famous Grand Bazaar
12. Emily and I inside the Grand Bazaar. Poor Em, she got 'befriended' by one too many shop owners
13. Mustafa found his love for Turkish Delight
14. We went to a Turkish tea house one night after dinner to smoke hookah. One of the locals there was very kind and taught us how to play Backgammon despite difficulties in communicating - it was a very fun night.
15. View of the shore from the Bosphorus cruise
16. Um... lots of birds! I found it quite scary, like something from a Hitchcock movie.