Aya Sofya

Istanbul (or is it Constantinople?)

---

August 19th 2004
Istanbul is the city that has, er 16 million people. There is so much to see here, it is ridiculous. Capital of the eastern Roman empire, Ottoman empire, etc. The old bit has all of the museums, etc and has a distinctly Arab feel (although one suspects that it is ramped up for the tourists). The new part, across the river, is all funky shops, bars, cinemas and cafes and you could be mıstaken fo ... read more

Middle East » Turkey

---

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopt... ... read more