Saturday, June 2, 2012

Istanbul Getaway to the Orient

While the sky is opening up, we are on a quest to discover Istanbul. Use to be know as Contantinople, Istanbul is at the crossroad of many civilization, the Ottoman Empire was the big player for a number of years.

Istanbul is certainly the most well know town of Turkey, but not it's capital, Ankara is. The population is 73 millions, 98% muslim and very prose of their heritage.

Our guide Esin, was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain the difference between muslim, islam and islamism, I believe we all came out with a different and welcoming  understanding of the Muslim world.

When we landed we were on the Oriental part of Turkey. Only 2% is on the Europe side and both are separate by the Bosphorus. Istanbul has a population of 12 to 13 millions...one of the largest one in the world.


A visit to Istanbul is not complete without a stop at Aya Sophia,  greatest legacy of the Byzantine empire: originally a church, later a mosque and now a museum, for nearly 1,000 years it was the largest enclosed space in the world


great spot to take photos


Amazing to see the past as a Cathedral and then as a Mosque












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