Our first day in Istanbul started off a little slow. Jetlagged and a bit motion sick from the 12-hour flight, I crashed for the first half of the day. My awakening, however, was timed perfectly with a late-afternoon walk topped off with beautiful light. We stayed at the Empress Zoe in Sultanehmet and were in a perfect location to wander around the side-streets near the Hajia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Come take a walk with me…
The Blue Mosque from the tram road.
People loved to congregate around the Hajia Sophia in the evening – a perfect place to catch up with friends and enjoy a picnic in the grass.
There were lots of food vendors. And lots of smiles. Turkish people are so friendly!
The Blue Mosque – striking and majestic with all of its domes and minarets.
Gardens around the Hajia Sophia.
This corn looked (and smelled) amazing.
Toasted walnuts were very popular.
The fruit selection in Turkey was incredible. My favorite was the fresh watermelon and cherries.
A young boy strides along the brick road outside the Hajia Sophia.
This square was incredibly packed with locals and tourists – a veritable melting pot of fascinating people enjoying these two masterpieces of Ottoman architecture.
The Four Seasons at dusk.
