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Of course, there was a lot more to Ottoman Istanbul than just mosques. Shown here is Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman nobility until the 1800s. |
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The library, outside (above) and inside (below) |
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A few cooks were busy feeding the 3000-4000 residents of the palace. |
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The palace was situated with a nice view of the Bosphorous. |
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In the 1800s, a new, even more ostentatious palace was built farther up the Bosphorous. |
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With the Grand Bazaar (which dates from the 1600s, and is the world's largest covered/indoor bazaar) we transition to modern Istanbul. The Bazaar is an easy place to get lost - it's a maze of streets that lacks the orienting feature of the sun. If you go late in the day, the carpet and jewelry salesmen don't seem to be quite as aggressive. |
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You can buy just about anything in Istanbul... |
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...I found this handgun shop in an underground pedestrian passageway near the Golden Horn. |
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Left: Istiklal Caddesi - the pedestrian/trolley thoroughfare and center for fashion shopping, nightlife, etc.
Right: A booming population (currently 15 billion) has led to these high-rise structures sprouting all around the edges of the city. |
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There's lots of great real estate and fantastic old buildings in Istanbul... |
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...but not enough money to fix everything up, as evidenced by this decrepit structure along the Bosphorous. |
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Traffic is terrible in Istanbul - a consequence of the huge population, archaic street layout, and limited mass transit. |
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There are two bridges across the Bosphorous - the first built in 1973. Now they are constructing a rail tunnel. |
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The rail system is small but expanding. This new "metro" light rail passes right through the major tourist area and is extremely useful (and well-used!) |
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Ferries are also important given all the water, which divides Asian Istanbul from European Istanbul. |
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Istanbul is a city with many hills and many views. Here, the Galata Tower watches over the Goldern Horn (an inlet of the sea that divides the European side of the city). |
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There are numerous restaurants in Sultanahmet, just waiting for tourists. Most of them are pretty mediocre. |
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The city has some nice little parks... |
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... as well as its share of urban wildlife. |
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With all the hills, it's not hard to find a hotel with a rooftop terrace and a spectacular view. |
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Ships line up for their turn to traverse the Bosphorous Straits. Special pilots are required for this tricky passage. |
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