Turkey
Turkey is a place I’ve heard so much about during from travels, which had me totally looking forward to going to Istanbul, and it did not disappoint. Between the skyline, the culture, and the mosques, it proved to be one amazing city.
I have to say the mosques were absolutely stunning. The lighting within, and level of detail to the structures are truly majestic. The Blue and Red Mosques (the most frequented of the mosques) were absolutely spectacular. Istanbul is also full of historical sites, like the Basilica Cistern, dating all the way back to 565…and it was still in amazing shape! We also made our way through the Topkapi Palace, which dates back to the mid 1400’s and considering it’s about 700 years old the colors of the tiles have remained amazingly vibrant. And did I mention the views! It sits up on the hillside with 180 degree views of the city. Not too shabby for a palace. And the best views of the city are probably from the Galata Tower. On a clear day you can see for ages!
We also made our way to the Grand Bazaar which spanned for what seemed like miles with boutique shops selling everything from t-shirts to handcrafted lamp shades and bedazzled converse shoes. It was quite a blend of tradition and a tourist breeding ground, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I think one of the highlights of Istanbul was going over to the Asian side of the country. It’s weird to think that a country can split 2 continents, let alone a city, but the boat ride over is beautiful…especially when you’re lucky enough to catch a brilliant sunset behind the skyline. (Yeah I was pretty lucky!)
I ended up having a great time and would welcome another trip to Turkey any day!
