Istanbul

Istanbul is by far one of the greatest cities of the world.  East meets west, occident meets orient, it's modern and ancient, energized but laid back, secular yet religious, it has something exciting for almost anyone.  It was safe and the people were extremely friendly.  If it isn't on your bucket list, put it there.  I would definitely live here.  I didn't want to leave.

The W Istanbul, my hotel.  Walking distance to the old city.  It was perfectly located.

An indoor bazaar in the old city.  Anything 'touristy' you would like from gold coins to t-shirts.  And it's fun to haggle.  BTW - the Turkish coffee is REALLY Turkish coffee.  One cup will get you on your feet.

Hagia Sophia - The reason I went to Istanbul.  Built in 500+ AD, it was erected by the Emperor Justinian.  Originally a church and then a mosque, it is now a museum.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - Interior.  It is massive.  The dome was the largest in its day.  Simply spectacular.

The Blue Mosque - it is an active mosque but you are allowed to enter and take photos.  The inside is beautiful.

Beware of the friendly tourists!  They aren't really tourists...they are trying to sell you rugs...expensive rugs...I got trapped 3 times because I was being polite.  They are beautiful, but starting at $1,750 for a small one is a bit scary.  I finally started lying and telling them I had bought two the day before...then they tried to sell be perfume or leather jackets.  It was hilarious how hard they tried.

The wall of the old city. It was actually breached and fell to the Turks.  It is massive.

It is hard to see in this photo, but the wall extends beyond  the hill in the distance.  Imagine a people capable of building this...then imagine the people that breached it.

Nothing special to note, I just liked the colors and activity.

The Bosphorus...one of the most important waterways in history.  It is the reason that Istanbul has been so established.  First Byzantium, then Constantinople, and now Istanbul.  It has changed hands often.

The hills along the Bosphorus.