Istanbul

(L) Hagia Sophia        (R) After talking about going to Turkiye for years, we finally were there!

(L) Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)        (R) Blue Mosque lit up

Hagia Sophia was built in AD 537 as a Byzantine church.
Minarets were added in the 15th-16th centuries (Ottoman Empire) when it became a mosque.

Hagia Sophia became a museum in 1935, and was redesignated as a mosque in 2020.
In 2024, part of the mosque became a museum again.

The Blue Mosque is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles, painted floral motifs and stained windows in predominantly blue colours, which give it its popular name.

Inside Blue Mosque

View of Sea of Marmara from Sultanahmet Palace Hotel located directly across from Blue Mosque

Breakfast at the Sultanahmet Palace Hotel with honey directly from honeycomb in the breakfast room

Grand Bazaar       

Topkapi Palace       

Topkapi Palace       

Topkapi Palace       

View of Strait of Bosphorus and Blue Mosque from Topkapi Palace       

(L) Cruise on the Bosphorus. There are ten people in uur tour group. Facing the camera is our guide, Mehmet.
(R) Kucushu Pavilion, a former summer pavilion for Ottoman sultans, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus

(L) Golden Horn Bridge across the Golden Horn, connecting the old and new parts of the European side of Istanbul
(R) Rumelian Fortress is a medieval Ottoman fortress located on the European banks of the Bosphorus

Basilica Cistern built by Roman Emperor Theodosius II between 428 and 443 is one of many ancient cisterns of Constantinople that lie beneath the city.

(L) All supporting columns are topped by Corinthian capitals        (R) David imitating modern sculptures

Upside down and sideway Medusa heads at the base of cistern columns. They were likely salvaged and repurposed from Roman structures during the cistern's construction in the 6th century

Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian rally in front of Hagia Sophia on October 9, 2 days after the attacks on Israel led by Hamas and the start of Gaza bombing by Israel military.

The protest was well-organized and peaceful. Although there were a few anti-America signs, we did not feel threatened. Here is a video we took.

Cappadocia

We flew from Istanbul to Cappadocia in central Turkey. The region is known for its distinctive "fairy chimneys” (hoodoos) tall, cone-shaped rock formations. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by cave dwellers and later used as refuges by early Christians.

(L) Ozkonak Underground City built in the Hittite era for defence
(R) The caves have heavy millstones for doors that could be rolled in place to seal off the outside world

Cave dwellings and hoodoos in Cappadocia             (R) Hoodoos in Love Valley, Cappadocia

We stayed in the Cave Hotel Yunak Evleri in Urgup, Cappadocia

We drove very early in the morning to Cavusin for a hot air balloon ride. Balloons will only be launched under calm wind conditions. We were fortunate that winds died down after waiting for more than half an hour. Fired up and ready to go.

Crammed into the basket tied to the balloon and ready to go.

(L) Hot air balloon ride is very popular in Cappadocia        (R) Sunrise!

More Balloons

At the end of the balloon ride, the operators skillfully manuvered the balloon to have it landed on a flat-bed truck to be driven to a flat spot for riders to disembark and the balloon be dismantled. Here is a video of the operation

(L) Visit a local farming family and had lunch in the countryside        (R) Cooking flat bread on open fire

Sally learning how to make flat bread

Konya

Mevlana Museum in Konya with mausoleum of Sufi mystic Rumi, the founder of the Mevlevi Sufi order of Islam.

(L) Sarcophagus of Sufi mystic Rumi        (R) Interior of Mevlana Museum

Mevlevi Sufi order is commonly known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling while performing dhikr (remembrance of God)
Mevlevi Sema Ceremony of Whirling Dervishes in Saruhan Culture and Congress Center (Video)

Interior of Esrefoglu Mosque in Konya

Interior of Esrefoglu Mosque in Konya

Turkiye Home Page

Western Turkiye Part 2: Antalya to Ephesus

Eastern Turkiye Part 1: Trabzon to Mount Ararat
Eastern Turkiye Part 2: Lake Van to Gaziantep

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