Istanbul

Istanbul

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul
June 4th 2009

Published: June 6th 2009

Turkey is a nice place for a holiday. Of course I try to avoid “nice” places, but it’s a nice change for a bit. It’s easy to travel in, at the moment it has lovely weather, the people are friendly, and in the tourist areas everyone speaks English and probably German and a few other languages. Reading the maps and guidebooks feels strange to me because you can’t help bumping into somew... Read Full Entry

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Daniel Gerber

Drinkthewater

UPDATE (April 2013) This site was the blog I kept for my long-term travels, mainly through Asia, in 2009-2010. I'm not maintaining it any more. I've done numerous trips since then but haven't kept them on this blog. I did run my own blog for a year but unfortunately lost that data. END UPDATE For those who're not familiar with blogs, note that this part is only my profile, the blog entries are linked from the bottom of this page (or subscribe, so you'll always know when I have a new one) Having always dreamed about travel, previously mainly done it as three-week or four-week sort... full info

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Istanbul - Sultanahmet

view from the guesthouse window, looking over the Bosphorus to Asia

Istanbul - Taksim square

a busy road radiating out from Taksim square ... the place to be at night. This photo was taken at a quiet time of the afternoon.

Istanbul

not quite sure where this is, I think it's looking across the Golden Horn up to a smaller mosque near Galata bridge in Sultanahmet.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

remains of the original church from the 4th century A.D. (?) that were uncovered when restoring the existing building. They couldn't be excavated further without damaging the existing building.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

Have you ever noticed how much church spires and mosque minarets look like space rockets? I wonder if they're planning something.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

"Sarcophagus of Empress" - Empress Zoe ?

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

Imperial Gate Mosaics, depicting Christ the Creator with an emperor (probably Leo the Wise) kneeling before him, with images of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel behind his shoulders

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

photo of one small corner of the dome, showing the Islamic caligraphy, and a Christian seraphim, its face obscured by Muslims.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

A massive scaffolding reaching up to the centre of the central dome.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

a whatsername thingummy that the Imman used to ascend to give readings, I think

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

stained glass, with Islamic patterns and caligraphy

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

The scafolding again and some of the seraphim, with their faces still obscured.

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

another view of the central dome with the scafolding, seraphim, and islamic caligraphy

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

Wish Column ("Sweating column"). Apparently on the strength of some saint, this column started sweating all by itself, so now you stick your thumb in there, turn your hand 360 degrees, and make a wish

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

Tourists!

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

view from the upper level

Istanbul - Haghia Sophia

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