The last gallery from the Turkey trip – this one is of the last two days we spent in the old historic center of Istanbul – the Sultanahmet area. Home to the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, the Cistern (and our hotel). It was a great trip for photography (and Turkish cotton towels).
Ben and Nora at our favorite lunch place - it had good food, a rooftop terrace and was right across the street from the hotel.
The view from the rooftop cafe was pretty spectacular.
Hagia Sophia seen from the Turkish Art Cafe. The tile roof building in the foreground was our hotel.
Getting measured for Turkish bathrobes in the Arasta Bazaar
Kai and Ben in the Arasta Bazaar
Getting ready to visit the Hagia Sophia first thing in the morning before the crowds set in.
Outside the Hagia Sophia
In the outer chamber before entering the main room. Gold mosiac ceiling and the wall decorations were the patterns from the cut marble.
The main door into the Hagia Sofia. Note the steps worn down from 1500 years of use.
Jacobs in the Hagia Sophia
View up at one of the passageways
Everyonoe was pretty impressed.
Caught the morning sun coming in through the windows. This one was not HDR.
Another shot of the morning sun along with the pulpit.
This column was brought from the Temple of Artimes at Ephesus. It has a thumb shape notch in it polished smooth by folks putting thier thumb in it and spinning their hand all the way around. Supposed to bring good luck...or maybe the flu.
Nora peers out of an upper story window at the Hagia Sophia
View of the tombs in the outer courtyard.
A mosaic on the upper story that was only partially destroyed and then plastered over. Now restored.
The Blue Mosque as seen from the upper Hagia Sophia. An iconic Istanbul picture. I suprised there was not a line for this particular vantage point.
Nora in the gallery of the Hagia Sophia
Corridor leaving the Hagia Sophia.
Outside now - the day is gettting hot.
A lantern shop in the Kapali Karchi (Grand Bazaar).
Kai in the old bazaar - to get the full effect you need to imagine it hot, poorly ventilated, and with lots of stale cigarette smoke
Another lantern shop picture taken in bald defiance of the no photos policy.
Passageway in the old bazaar
Somewhere down near the very center.
At the entrace to the old antique and jewelry area
Another picture of the Kapali Karshi
Last image of a lantern shop
Nora at lunch.
Kai at lunch
Crystal in the hotel barIt was not your typical hotel bar.
Crystal with the Hagia Sophia taken from the hotel
Kai and Nora get ready for sundowner milkshakes.
At the Seven Hills restaurant.
Nora at the Seven Hills restaurant
Hagia Sophia at sunset.
Kai hanging out with Mom and Dad in the hotel lounge
Modesty requried in the Blue Mosque
Jacobs family in the Blue Mosque
Nora outside the Blue Mosque. She covered her hair but still wore her "Thirsty Pagan" t-shirt.