Day 12 Istanbul

 Day 12: Istsnbul

Weather: Raining and cold

Activities: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Basilica Cisterns, hell is the Grand Bazaar 

B will be our guide for most of the rest of the trip, 50, dynamic, easy to understand, says just enough and not too little or too much. 

local raven (not all black)

local seagull with spotted tail

light drizzle, spot out of the rain

looks like a Habitat For Humanity project

backed up to a castle wall

minaret under maintenance

lots of umbrellas out today

Hagia Sophia Mosque: one of the largest religious buildings in the world, when erected over 1500 years ago it was the largest. Now a mosque and museum, it was originally a Byzantine church built in the 4th century

sacred cat

MM took this pic; women required to cover their hair

Even THB has his hair covered (it is cold)

above giant set of doors, high enough up to be preserved from gold leaf robbers (or so the myth goes)

Basilica Cisterns: built to hold fresh water for the old city, now a tourist spot. The art work is from a recent Istanbul Biennale 

head coverings no longer required

old "trash" used to prop up roof

Medusa

B.  Dylan album cover

toilet entrance

the gates of Hell, aka the Gran Bazaar

lunch: guy on left explains the menu and you place your order here

lamb shank

eggplant over beef and rice, served with mashed potatoes

what floor are we on? what is our room number? what building are we in?

churros 

Great view from 4th floor of the busy harbor; no alcohol

we are in the smoking section