One of my favorite sites... basilica cistern
Very lovely and massive. It is completely underground.
There were hundreds of carp. I don't think they have ever seen sunlight.
Medusa's head.
A pigeon at the Pet Market, part of the Spice Market.
Tiny turtles.
Curious toucan.
Ducklings.
At the Spice Market.
Delicious dried dates, figs, apricots, and more...
Sea of Marmara.
Outside of topkapi palace.
View of the Sea from Topkapi Palace.
At the archaeological museum.
This was interesting. For 5 Lira, a rooster picked my fortune and a bunny picked Matt's fortune. What did my fortune say? "You got tired for the last days but you still don't perceive your own state. This exhausting work can put your health in danger. You're admired by two people but you don't even notice them." Interesting!
Matt's fortune: "O! Owner of fortune: You're in straits nowdays but don't worry you will sort out everything and feel happy. It is seen generosity by someone."
Crowded streets in the New District.
Seafood dinner on the last night in Istanbul. Delicious. The host brought out a platter of 15-20 different mezes (appetizers) to choose from. I picked stuffed muscles and Matt got rice filled grape leaves. He then brought out a platter of fresh whole fish to choose from. We picked a Kırlangıç, a kind of rock fish. It was the most expensive meal of our lives. We didn't know you had to buy the whole fish until after we chose. Total cost of dinner: 190 Lira! You can do the currency conversion HERE. Nutty!
Whew! An exhausting trip! More pictures in our Flickr photostream and I'll add more later.