It was our last day of touring, covering more of the historic district of Istanbul.
A short drive led us to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is most commonly known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue-colored tiles inside. It is still an active mosque today.
We walked to Topkapi Palace, which was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years. It is now a museum, allowing us to explore. From the treasury to the harem to other buildings, it’s an interesting place to see.
I was looking forward to revisiting our next stop: the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. From Assyrian artifacts to Greco-Roman statues to a number of objects from Israel, it’s one of the best. Unfortunately, they very recently closed down large sections of it for renovation. There is still a decent amount to see. This trip has received a poor track record of encountering museums that are under renovation.
The official tour was over, but we still had time to spare. The group split up. I went to the location of the ancient hippodrome (now an open square with some of its center markers left) and the basilica cistern.
We ended the trip with a worship service, reflecting on our trip. God called Paul to an impossible task in all the places he traveled, but gave him the strength he needed. He will do the same with us if we will trust him and follow.