Istanbul with Neil and Christine - Day 1

We flew to Istanbul to meet up with Neil and Christine after they'd finished their bus tour of Turkey. Our first day was a bit of a late start as we'd arrived very late the night before. We caught a taxi into the old centre and went to the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, the Basilica Cisterns and the Grand Bazaar. As it was a Friday (the main religious day for Muslims) the tour of the Blue Mosque was very quick. Here we'd been "befriended" by a very helpful man who tried to then invite us to look at his carpet store and drink apple tea!! We managed to lose him though!
Inge, Neil and Christine in the Blue Mosque & the ceiling

The Aya Sofia was very interesting as in Byzantine times it was a Christian church. When the Muslims started using it as a mosque they just plastered over all the mosaics and slightly altered the layout. Now it is a museum they have started to remove the plaster to expose what was underneath.

The Basilica Cistern is from Roman times and where they stored the city water. The construction is quite amazing and as usual very ornate. The highlight here was the two Medusa heads to warn off evil.
Ben being clever with the light and reflection in the water!

Medusa's head to ward of evil & the expanse of the cisterns

The next stop after lunch was the Grand Bazaar which was a maze of little alley ways with so many stalls selling a hige range of goods. The jewellery stores were particularly amazing. Ben was amazed at the store that sold outfits for boys who were being circumsised. This traditionally happens at the age of 8 and the boys wear this outfit everywhere for weeks before the event, after which they have a massive party. We saw a few boys wearing it, and they all looked so proud, I'm not sure they really understood what was going to happen!!

Outside one of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar & the circumsision outfit!

Christine checking out the circusision outfits & one of the insides of a bazaar stall

Our day ended with a lovely meal at a restaurant across the road with beautiful Turkish food before collapsing into bed.