Istanbul - Part 2 (INDIA)

Another perspective of Taksim Square

I am posting this blog of Istanbul from New Delhi.  I last left you at Taksim Square on my first day of sightseeing.  Here are more photos from that excursion in Istanbul.

Not far from Taksim Square is the Orthodox church of St. Andrew.  It was so odd to see a cross on a church in the midst of so many mosques!

Trolley which goes from Taksim Square to Galata Tower.  The trolley goes down the center of the main street from Taksim Square.

Turkcell is the equivalent of Verizon in the US.  The length of this main street is free WiFi.

Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony, on the main street which leads from Taksim Square.

Statue of Pope John XXIII in the courtyard of the Church of St. Anthony

Entrance to the Museum and theater of the Whirling Dervishes.

Galata Tower (something to Google!)

The Galata Bridge where, as you can see, people go fishing in the Bosphorus.

Restaurants line the lower level of the bridge/

View from the Galata Bridge

View of the mosque which is next to the Spice Market at the foot of the Galata Bridge.

Inside the Spice Market.

Not everything sold in the Spice Market is spice, especially since the Spice Market is a principal tourist destination.

I have no idea who he is, but I liked the monument. [Marty Michaelson has since informed me that the likeness may be that of Ataturk, founder of the modern secular state.]

Water pipes were not uncommon at cafes.

Hagia Sophia Basilica

The Hagia Sophia is directly opposite the Blue Mosque with the fountain between them.

The Ayasophia Hamami, that is, Turkish bath, across from the Hagia Sophia.

The Blue Mosque

Interior courtyard of the Blue Mosque.

The rear wall of the Blue Mosque and buildings adjacent to the wall.

Interior of the dome of the Blue Mosque.

Only Muslims were allowed on the carpet if they were there to pray.

Interlopers in the men's area of the mosque!

How's your Arabic?

Front courtyard of the Blue Mosque.

And not one of them flies!

Many more photos of Istanbul to follow in Part 3.  Stay tuned and join me on the cruise of the Bosphorus!