Istanbul Day 1

We arrived a couple days ahead of our tour so that we could explore one of the most iconic cities in the world.

We arranged a walking tour with a local guide on day 1 who started things off at the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Blue Mosque. This house of worship was constructed in the early 17th century as a power play to rival the nearby Hagia Sophia mosque. The sultan wanted “his” mosque to be the tallest around but his architects could not figure out how to make it happen. So instead, they decided to add additional minarets so that the Blue Mosque would have a total of 6 while the Hagia Sophia would be stuck with the paltry sum of 4.

We then moved on to learn about the Hippodrome where citizens would watch chariot races and cheer wildly for their favorite team.

My favorite morsel of history here was about the huge decorative pillars that lined the interior of the track. I couldn’t imagine placing something in the middle of a track which would block the view of the fans. But, according to our guide, it was done purposely to increase excitement as the racers would come in and out of view.

Next, we visited the Basilica Cistern which is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city. These water filtration and storage facilities are something to behold. Storing the water underground not only helped with evaporation, but also helped prevent invading armies from poisoning the water supply so easily as they fight to overthrow a city.

We finished the day at the

Grand Bazaar, the largest one of its kind in the world. With 22 gates and over 3,600 shops, you can find just about anything you desire!Baca lagi