Istanbul

Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Approximately 65% of its 15+ million inhabitants live on the historic and densely populated European side (Thrace); the remainder on the mostly residential Asian side (Anatolia). We stayed in the Sultanahmet district: home to the historic Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Topkapı Palace, and the Basilica Cistern. We hired a local guide, Muhammed, to take us through most of these sites and the famed Grand Bazaar. where we got to have tea overlooking the Kedi Yolu (Cat’s Path) seen in the opening scene in James Bond’s Skyfall. We also spent a whole day with him on the Asian side visiting the Üsküdar district and the relatively new (1990’s) Çavuşbaşı Central Mosque in the Beykoz region. This impressive mosque can house up to 2,000 worshipers but that’s fraction of the Blue Mosque’s 20,000 capacity.

It’s fascinating city and well worth visiting.