Our day began with a short flight from Antalya to Istanbul, where we’re spending our last two days. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey with 15 million people. It was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, a time span lasting about 1500 years. It is a city with a rich, deep history overlayed with modern bustle.
Our first stop from the airport was the Hagia Sophia, a large church rebuilt by the emperor Justinian in the sixth century. 900 years later the Turks conquered the city and turned the church into a mosque. In 1934 it became a museum. Looking around the main hall, it is hard to grasp the scale even in person. The main dome has no extra columns to support it, showcasing engineering genius (all the more in this earthquake prone area).
Pulling ourselves from the swarms around the ancient church, we drove to the Grand Bazaar. Construction began in 1455 with it growing over time, making it a popular attraction. Hundreds of thousands of people visit each day.
Finally, we went down to the water for a boat trip around the Bosporus, giving us a chance to relax while hearing about some of the luxurious building built along the waterfront.
