ISTANBUL

I spent 3 full days in Istanbul, staying at Best Western Hotel Spectra which is in an excellent position. The breakfast room looks over the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus.

Here I am amongst the ruins of the Palace of Antiochus (5th century) with the Blue Mosque beyond.

I visited the usual sites

The Blue Mosque

Sancta Sophia

Down to the Bosphorus and the Bucolean Palace wall (AD830)

and visited the Great Palace Mosaics Museum (AD500)

Acoss the Bosphorus by ferry (several times) to Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian shore.

Here is a view of Istanbul from Kadikoy

and the Fish markets at Uskudar

A morning was spent at the Topkapi Palace

The Main gate

The beautifully tiled Antechamber in the Harem

Below is the Fourth Court

from where there is a great view over the Bosphorus

and of course I visited the Bazaar

Then on Tuesday 22nd April I went by bus to Eceabat, my base for visiting Gallipoli

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