Well, that's another h0liday over and I had a truely excellent time, but I'm really looking forward to starting my new job in China now . There will of course be a new blog up at http://www.suzhoufat.blogspot.com/ before long!

Topkapi Palace / Aysofya Camii / Basilica Cistern

Below are some photos from our last full day in Istanbul, we saw Topaki Palace, which was the heart of the Ottoman empire for centuries, An ancient underground Roman reservoir teeming with carp and Ayasofy Camii, an ancient christian church, turned mosque, turned museum.

The Grounds of Topaki Palace, Overlooking the Halic

The Basilica Cistern (AD 532) - An Underground Roman Reservoir

The Remaining few Inches of Water are teeming with Carp

Ayasofya Camii, built in AD 532 and for a Millenium Chirstianity's most sacred Church

Ortakoy

Ortakoy is a nice little shoreline area of Istanbul filled with resteraunts, bars and shops. It reminded me of San Francisco's North Beach. The far side of the Bosphorous could have been Berkeley :-)

Beyoglu

I spent this afternoon wandering around the newer, European-founded part of Istanbul, Beyolglu. We've been to this area of the city plenty of times at night, eating and drinking around Istiklal Caddesi, but I thought it would be nice to check out some of the sights during the day. So here's what I did today:

I took a cab under the Valens Aquaduct, completed in 363AD...

...caught a tram down Istiklal Caddesi...

...past a lovely church...

...to the 11th century 'Gelata' tower...

..where I got a great view of the confluence of the Bosphorous and Halic...

...and Sultanahmet (left-right: Topaki Palace, Ayasofya and the Blue Mosque).

Eating and Drinking in Istanbul

My family and I had a lovely dinner tonight overlooking Ayasofya Camii, a 6th century Roman church built by the emperor Justinian I, below are a few more shots of us eating and drinking in Istanbul.

Lunch at the Holiday Inn



Lunch Near the Blue Mosque

Sultanahmet

Here are some photos from our trip to Mehmet and the Blue Mosque. Where else can you see Bytantine Churches, a 16th Century Mosque and a 3600 year old Egyptian Obilisk via a gentle morning stroll?

Gardens in Front of the Blue Mosque (built 1600AD)

Domed Ceilings in the Courtyard

The Intricate Interior is Difficult to Photograph Well

Our First Time in a Mosque

Imposing Rear View of the Mosque

A 3600 year-old Egyptian Obilisk

A 1500 year-old Roman Obilisk

After seeing the sights, we had a lesiurely lunch of Mezzes and wine at a local resteraunt. What a great morning!