East Meets West

Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is a fascinating city of over thirteen million people from many different backgrounds. There were many things we saw that reminded us of other places in Europe but we were told more than once that Istanbul was NOT Europe (usually by other Europeans). It seems like the rest of Europe doesn't know what to do with Turkey. Turkey is like the boy who wants to play with you but you can't decide if you want him as your new friend. (After awhile the boy starts thinking that maybe he doesn't need or even want you as a friend.)

Since Roman Emperor Constantine decided to make it a capital of the Roman Empire in the 300's, this city has been at the centre of historical events in the Mediterranean and beyond. It straddles the Bosphorus Strait (a crucial waterway for thousands of years) and is on the Silk Road which meant it was a hub in the biggest trade route of its time. It has been the capital of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire. Istanbul was one of the centres of Christianity until it was conquered in the 1450's and became an Islamic stronghold. All of these factors have created an eclectic mix of cultures.

The Golden Horn is the historic heart of the city and contains the Hagia Sophia (originally begun in the fourth century and the largest church in the world for over one thousand years) which was converted into a mosque after the Muslims conquered the city and is now a museum. Across from it sits the Blue Mosque, one of many humongous mosques in Istanbul. We visited both of them as the snow fell and found them to be awe-inspiring and cold. The Topkapi Palace (home to the Sultans for hundreds of years) and the Basilica Cistern (the largest of hundreds of underground cisterns with its majestic columns and Medusa heads) were other highlights found within the old city walls of the Golden Horn. We visited numerous other beautiful mosques, climbed the Galata Tower to get a good overview of the city, walked across the Galata Bridge (packed with fishermen) numerous times, and took a ferry ride across the Bosphorus. But our favourite activity still was wandering through all the markets especially the Grand Bazaar.