A captivating city

Istanbul is a truly captivating city. It's the only city in the world that is built on two continents, with a population of 12 million people (much bigger than I thought), and a history that dates back nearly 3,000 years, comprising four world empires (Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman).



We had a wonderful time here, wandering the lively streets and quiet alleys of Sultanahmed, visiting the sultan's harem and tulip gardens in Topkapi, avoiding collisions with beeping cars and yellow cabs, negotiating with persistant rug and pottery sellers, drinking Turkish tea on Kindergarten-size chairs, crossing the Bosporus over and over again by steamship, smoking waterpipe under the bridges of the Golden Horn, doing 'carpet time' in a mosque, being impressed with the hugeness of the Aya Sofia, prayer walking on the old walls of the city, and enjoying amazing oriental sunsets.