starting out from istanbul

the trip we returned from only 40 hours ago started out in Istanbul.  we arrived late afternoon and had an early dinner before crashing.  the next day- the first of the "touring" days- included  a whirlwind tour of the highlights of Istanbul including the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar.
a quick lunch stop was included and we returned to the hotel around 6:30 for a dinner on our own.

here are selected photos from the day of sightseeing in Istanbul:

first the Topkapi Palace-

view of the city from the palace:

souvenirs for sale outside:

the blue mosque:

the Hagia Sophia:

food- lunch, then bagel like rolls with poppy or sesame seeds:

mosaic ceiling of temple structure on Hippodrome:

detail from Egyptian obelisk on Hippodrome plaza:

on to the Grand Bazaar where you can buy ANYTHING!:

a stop for Turkish coffee:

then back to the never ending shops- here, jewelry display and gift boxes being sold:

lots of hat choices:

and finally- a view of three towers that lined up nicely as we were leaving the Topkapi Palace: