Off to Istanbul (3) Sultanahmet

We arrived in Istanbul in the afternoon and had a chance to look around trhe hotel, which was right on the water.

It was a tall, imposing building a bit outside of downtown. We actually didn't spend much time there.

The neighborhood was very modern and mainly residential.

It was the kind of place where you would feel comfortable walking your pet goat.

 

The next morning we caught the shuttle bus into the old city area of Sultanahmet. This was a crazy touristy neighborhood with several of the top sightseeing destinations, which we wandered through this day.

The first stop was to be the Blue Mosque (click the link for the history) but we arrived there at prayer time, so we had to change our plans.

Outside the Blue Mosque

Fortunately the Hagia Sophia church was just across the park, so we walked over there and toured through.

Hagia Sophia

Everywhere in town the flowers were in bloom, and well cultivated in the public parks.

The most common street vendor in this area had to be the chestnut and corn seller. Here is a typical one.

The church was pretty impressive inside.

With lots of finely done mosaic scenes.

Here is a short clip as we look around the entrance hall. The place was full of tourists from all over, and we ended up standing behind a Japanese tour group.

By this time the prayers were finished in the Blue Mosque, so we headed back over there.

Very impressive tile work in the Mosque

The prayer area

After the Mosque we went around the corner and down into the underground Basilica Cistern. This is almost a small city under the above ground streets. Dark and spooky, it is full of water and decorated with ornate columns. Definitely a highlight of the visit to this neighborhood.

Afterward, above ground again, you can get an idea of how modern and bustling Istanbul is. Tourists everywhere, it is clean and attractive. You could spend several more days wandering around just this one neighborhood.