Istanbul (was Constantinople...)

Me at the Bosporus Bridge.
On the left, Europe.  On the Right, Asia.

Last week was Spring Break, so I went to Istanbul! The meeting of East and West.  It's a really neat city.  It was Byzantium, then Constantinople (Christian), then Istanbul (Muslim), so it's culturally diverse.  Probably the coolest thing for me was all the architecture, but sitting on the Bosphorous looking at Asia (or Europe; I went to both sides) was pretty cool, as well.  The water's a remarkable turquoise, and that's impressive, too.

Most of what I did was look at cool stuff and eat.  Since I can't share the delicious food, let's get right to the photos!

Topkapi Palace - Home of the Sultans, it overlooks the old
city and the Bosphorous.
Left to right: Alex, Aline, Bruno, Fernanda, Bojan, Marcio

Next to the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)!
A Christian church from 360, converted to a mosque in 1450s,,
then finally a museum in the 1930s.  It's got Christian and Islamic
symbols and art inside.

Inside the Ayaspfya.  The dome is one HUGE unsupported span!
Note the Arabic calligraphy next to the Christian mosaic.
(This was the last photo I got before my camera broke down.)

The Blue Mosque, across from the Ayasofya.  It's not as
old, but it's beautiful.  The blue inside is really impressive.

Tear-drop column in the Cistern that used to
provide water for the palace.  It's from about 540
and still standing strong!

Chora (Church) Museum.  It lies just outside the
old city walls in the West, and it's got a bunch of
impressive Byzantine frescoes & mosaics.

Chora Museum also has cool marble art.  Slabs were cut
from the same block then flipped to make cool patterns.
I like rocks.