"Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter..."
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| (The Blue mosque) |
Day 08: Thursday, 21 April 2016
From the Cumalikizic Village we drove to Topcular Terminal at Yalova, a city in Marmara Region across the Gulf of Izmit. The bus took a fast ferry, the quickest and easiest way to Istanbul. We arrived in Istanbul at 2:00 pm in time for lunch.
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| (Topcular Ferry Terminal) |
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| (Ferries carrying commuters and vehicles) |
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| (Sea gulls flying alongside the ferry) |
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| (Ample time to get out of the bus and walk around the ferry) |
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| (Gloomy sky and a slight drizzle) |
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| (A bridge, an alternative way to cross the gulf to Istanbul) |
As we were early, we had time to visit some attractions in Istanbul.
Byzantine Hippodrome, Istanbul
Byzantine Hippodrome was the heart of Constantinople's political and sporting life, and the scene of games and riots through 500 years of Ottoman history as well. It is now a city park called the AtMeydanı or Horse Grounds because of its function in Ottoman times.
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| (The many attractions around the area) |
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| (Sultan Ahmet Meydani) |
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| (The walled obelisk originally covered with bronze plaques) |
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| (Tripod of Platea, known as Serpent Column) |
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| (An obelisk brought from Egypt) |
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| (Istanbul Museum) |
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Its complex contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popularly used as a mosque.
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| (A 400-year old Sultan Ahmet Cami Mosque) |
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| (The floor is covered with contrasting red carpet) |
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| (More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs) |
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| (Blue Mosque for its blue-tiled interior) |
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| (The mihrab is from finely carved and sculptured marble) |
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| (The lamps were once covered with gold and gems) |
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| (Ladies are not allowed to enter the main prayer area) |
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| (Tourists visiting or performing prayers) |
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| (The quieter side of the mosque) |
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| (Each minaret has three balconies) |
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| (One of the two mosques with six minarets) |
Hagia Sofea
Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica, later an imperial mosque, and now a museum. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years,
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| (A view from the Blue Mosque) |
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| (A museum, once a Mosque and a Church) |
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| (Sitting area for visitors to enjoy the surrounding scenes) |
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| (A beautifully kept park) |
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| (Signages and a chestnut stall) |
The Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
The Topkapı Palace is a large palace in Istanbul that was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years of their 624-year reign.
As a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important holy relics of the Muslim world. The Topkapı Palace is among the monuments contained within the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. It contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. It was originally called the New Palace to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name Topkapı, Cannon Gate, in the 19th century, after a gate and shore pavilion.
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| (A short distance from the Blue Mosque) |
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| (An ancient washroom and fountain) |
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| (The entrance to Topkapi Palace) |
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| (The first courtyard leading to the museum halls) |
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| (Museum Shop for souvenirs) |
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| (The ticket to Topkapi Palace and Museum) |
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| (The second courtyard) |
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| (An entrance to another courtyard) |
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| (Waiting for others to catch up) |
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| (A beautiful Arabic calligraphy arts) |
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| (A reception area to the palace) |
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| (A marble building, part of the palace) |
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| (The Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace) |
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| (Capturing the two continents, Asia and Europe) |
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| (Tulips are blooming beautifully) |
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| (Gold decorations of the roof) |
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| (Entrance to one of the museums) |
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| (Inside the Divan Room) |
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| (Intricate carving of walls) |
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| (The alley leading to the Ceramic Museum) |
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| (The majestic entrance and exit) |
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| (Quranic verses decorating the entrance) |
Local scenes around town
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| (Istanbul tourist hop-on hop-off bus) |
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| (A graceful vibrant butterfly performers at the park) |
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| (Eateries serving local cuisines) |
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| (A varieties of Turkish delights) |
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| (A stall selling corns and chestnuts) |
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| (Driving along the Bosphorus) |
Tonight we stayed in the Vialand Palace Hotel in the suburb of Istanbul, 14 km away from the centre of town. It is situated next to Vialand Theme and Amusement Park. This modern elegant all-suite hotel has all the facilities.
A dinner buffet is served in a restaurant with a terrace.
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| (A 5-star hotel next to an amusement park) |
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| (Disneyland style castle of the amusement park) |
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| (Our spacious comfortable room for two night) |
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