ISTANBUL 2025
August 2025: 8/1 Kinali day - 8/2 Museum day - 8/3 Bosphorus day - 8/4 -Pria day
Once again we went to istanbul, first to visit Odette and family and second to show the historical sights to the kids.
8/1 Kinali Day
The first day we went to Kinali where Odette has a summer house
Our boat rides - going indoors & coming back outside
The view approaching the island and a couple of the houses. The beautiful old ones [left] and the appartments which in most cases were erected when people geve up their island homes to contractors and settled for a couple of city like flats [right].
The family and the obligatory pictures
Odette with me and the rest of the family
Talin and Lucine bonded in a very sweet way - The garden, where most of the vegetables we had were raised - the amazing spread - Cousins talking - and the girls with Raffi
and the whole Family below
We left the island with a lot of trepidations... and sadness ...
Views from the boat [Maiden's Tower and the first Bosphorus Bridge] and Dinner with a view
A jam packed day with our lovely guide Işıl who organized all and made life easier for all, epsecially me!
We started with Sultan Ahmet [Blue Mosque] we followed isntructions and wore the appropriate ensembles required by the religious authorities. We admired the architcture and the beautiful blue tiles and learned a lot thanks to Işıl .
Then came Ayasofya [Agia Sofia] which was built as a church by the Byzantians, then it was coverted to a mosque by the conquering Ottomans. Then it became a museum as part of the modernization of the Turkish Republic and now back to a mosque by the ruling Islamist Party. We were only allowed the gallery as the lower parts are reserved for prayers.
Various invaluable mosaics, including Mary being hidden from believers by a curtain - Islam doesn't condone idolatry -Mary is mentioned as the mother of Jesus, many times in the Koran.
Then came Dikilitaş [Obelisk of Theodosius] and Alman Çeşmesi German Fountain
Then Yerebatan Sarayı, The Basilica Cistern.
... and last but not least Topkapı Sarayı [Topkapi Palace]
Below, from left: Entrance to the harem, Sultan's mother's bathroom, the throne room and a random corridor, all in the harem.
The Treasury
The palace balony overlooking Bosphorus and a gusting wind
We finished the day with a dinner at Novotel
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