I wanted to share with you some images of my trip to Turkey. Rather than a travel guide, this is more of an Istanbul review. Istanbul treated me with a lot of what I love the most: a mixture of old and new, innovation and tradition and I couldn’t be happier to absorb it all in. On the first day, our discoveries of Istanbul started at the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more famously known as the Blue Mosque (first 3 pictures). The neighborhood, also called Sultan Ahmet, is situated on cobble-stoned sloped streets were you can also spot the Golden Horn part of the Bosphorus. It’s a non-ending contemplation of beauty.
Above, Grand Kiosk constructed in an eclectic europeanized style.
A tromp-l’oeil on one of the doors that lead to the inside of the Imperial Divan.
Above, Ciragan Palace where my lucky husband had his High School graduation ball.
The Gates of The Dolmabasce Palace.
A view of Sultan Amet neighborhood.
After 5 hours of absorbing the awe-inspiring beauty of Topkapi Palace we headed to Ortakoy neighborhood which means middle town. There, the girls and I went into a small store specializing in hats, while the boys went to look for a restaurant. While trying on almost all the hats in this small open shop which is surrounded only by old buildings and with the calling for prayer as our background I couldn’t help but feel as if we were the main characters in a James Bond movie.
A view of the Ortakoy Mosque from our table.
When traveling dress accordingly: The Hamptons
A Perfect Gray
beautiful. my sister was there years ago – Ankara and Side – and loved it.
Splendid Sass
The architecture is mind boggling. Absolutely beautiful.
Teresa
Alcira Molina-Ali
How beautiful. Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world. These pictures are stunning and make me so nostalgic.
Cheers, Alcira
thenerochronicles.blogspot.com
Sanity Fair
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! This architecture is incredible. I would so love to travel there! Thanks for sharing your pics – luck you! 🙂
-SF
P.S. I'm hosting a Marc Jacobs jewelry give away! I'd love for you to stop by!
http://sfair.blogspot.com/2010/10/marc-jacobs-give-away.html