Istanbul (not Constantinople)

"Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul not Constantinople"

If you need a reference to the song - click here!

Istanbul was like no other place we've been before.  It's hard to find the right words to explain exactly why, or what it was about this place that seemed so 'different' but we'll do our best to try.  For those of you who are fans of Disney movies, I (Nancy) referred to the movie, Aladdin, more than once during our 6-day trip if that helps to set the tone.

I think pictures will be best to help to illustrate the uniqueness and appeal of Istanbul, and so we don't get carried away, we'll condense it to a list of the "Top 13" (in no particular order).

VIDEO for #1 on its way...

 #1 - Call to prayer.  Five times a day you hear the "call to prayer" throughout the streets.  This was played on speakers from the minarets at each mosque.  It was a constant reminder to us that we were in Istanbul and very much in the heart of an Islamic nation.

#2 - Apple Tea.  One of the most popular drinks in Istanbul is tea, especially apple-flavored tea (think warm apple cider).  It is served in a small, tulip shaped glass.  Here you can see we sampled one apple and one orange tea at a cafe.

#3 - Nargile.  Also known as "hookah" or "shisha".   Yes, of course we had to blend in with the locals.

#4 - Dolmabahce Palace.  Here we are at the entrance to the Dolmabache Palace. It's decorated extravagantly, even though it was built during the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan financed this palace with loans from foreign banks.  It can only be visited on a guided tour, and they didn't even allow pictures inside.

#5 - The Blue Mosque.  The best view in Istanbul at night. Luckily we passed by it on our walk home each night.  We also visited the Blue Mosque during the day and the view was quite remarkable.  The official name of the mosque is the Sultanahmet mosque, but it has been given the nickname, "Blue Mosque" because there are over 21,000 Iznik tiles (mostly blue) decorating the interior.  It was beautiful to see, the only part that wasn't enjoyable was the odor of smelly tourist feet - since no one is allowed to wear shoes inside.

#6 - The Turkish language.   Very difficult to pronounce or even try to sound out.  The combination of letters is so different than any other language we speak, or learned in school.  So we resorted to pointing at names if we were trying to ask how to get somewhere.

#7 - Hagia Sofia.  This was probably our favorite, awe-inspiring tourist spot in Istanbul.  It is incredible to think it is more than 1,400 years old!  It was originally built as a Christian church and later converted to a Mosque when the Ottoman's took over.  The inside (which you can see here) is so tall that the Statue of Liberty could fit inside!

#8 - Cats. Imagine the world's largest zoo for cats.  Now imagine someone breaking into that zoo and letting all of the cats out.  That's what it's like in Istanbul - there are cats everywhere!

#9 - Turkish Baths.  No trip to Istanbul is complete without spending a few hours in a Turkish bath (hamam).  We treated ourselves to a Turkish Bath experience on one of our last nights in Istanbul and it was such a treat (we even upgraded with an oil massage). We left feeling completely re-energized and rejuvenated.

#10 - Grand Baazar.  A shoppers dream!  Nothing can prepare you for the Grand Baazar - it is a cluster of small streets, with booth-like shops selling just about anything you can imagine, filled with thousands of people.  The shopkeepers and their assistants are relentless in their quest for a sale. It's a toss-up to say who enjoyed bargaining more, but it was definitely a great experience and we walked away with a few souvenirs...

#11 - Basilica Cistern.  Known as the "most unusual tourist attraction in the city", this underground water cistern was a beautiful and unique sight to see.

#12 - Turkish candies.  I (Nancy) LOVE candy.  Maybe it's because as a child I was hiper-active and therefore I was prohibited to eat anything with sugar listed as an ingredient for the first 18 years of my life.  But I found one candy in the world I can live without, the traditional Turkish candies, or "Turkish delights" in Istanbul.  They are bland, bright colored, marshmallow-tasting candies, but chewier... very disappointing.

#13 - Bosphorous cruise.  A perfect, relaxing way to spend an afternoon - cruising up the Bosphorus River with Europe on one side and Asia on the other.