ISTANBUL

Our final stop, Istanbul.

A city that straddles two continents: Europe and Asia.

The Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque

was built between 1609-1617 

The Mihrab (Niche) reflects the voice of the imam (prayer leader) to the people praying behind.

The Minber (Pulpit) looks like a staircase however it is used as a raised platform to deliver a sermon.

There are four very large pillars with a diameter of 5 metres.  These are given the name 'fil paye' in Turkish which means 'elephant feet' due to the resemblance to the sturdy feet of a huge elephant.

The main prayer hall can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at a time.

In Turkish Islamic arhitecture the dome is usually considered a representation of the heavens.

The main dome is about 43 metres high and has a diameter of 23.5 metres

The striking minarets lighting up the skyline.  Inside there are stairs leading to the balconies and originally 16 people made the 'adhan', call to prayer, simultaneously towards different directions from the minarets.  Today, with the use of current technology, one person makes the same announcement.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

The Hagia Sophia was used as a church for 916 years, was used as a mosque for 482 years, 

and in 1935 it was converted into a museum.

The great rounded calligraphic panes on the walls contain the names of Allah, Muhammad, and the four caliphs, as well as the grandsons of Muhammad.  The calligraphic panes are the largest ones in the Islamic world.

There are also many glittering mosaics of Biblical scenes.

Lunch stop at Nato's, a local lokantasi (tradesman's restaurants) where we eat the most amazing food.

and then enjoy a quick drink in the Hotel Pera Palace where detective 

writer Agatha Christie's 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express was written.  

The drinks cost more than the meal, but what a place!

And they do give you free cashew nuts!

The Topkapi Palace was a major residence of the Ottoman sultans 

for almost 400 years of their 624-year reign.

The Gate of Salutation

The complex is guarded by officials of the ministry 

as well as armed guards of the Turkish military.

The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers

  

with many fine examples of Ottoman architecture,

 along with large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, Ottoman miniatures, 

Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals.

Next day we take a ferry across the Golden Horn.

Fish restaurants under the Galata Bridge

Visit Chora Church

which has amazing Byzantine mosaics and frescoes decorating the interior.

 Then it's off to the Grand Bazaar,

the largest covered market in the world with more than 60 streets and 4,000 shops,

followed by a Turkish coffee 

at Pierre Loti Hill

before we need to head back to the hotel for a Turkish bath 

and pack our cases ready for the flight home tomorrow.

We've come to the end of another wonderful, exciting, event packed journey.