Izmir to Istanbul, Saturday February 9th

So after a busy week of tours and cultural stops, our main duty for Saturday was getting to Istanbul with a group tour set up for Saturday afternoon, followed by a free evening and a free day on Sunday.  Our flight was a bit late leaving Izmir, but we got to Istanbul mid afternoon and got stuck in some of its reknowned traffic on our way into the city. 

The road from the airport took us along side the Sea of Marmara to where it joins the Bosphorus.  The first photo is that of some of the large ships waiting to go through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea as the waterway is one way depending on the time of the day. 

Our hotel the Yasmak Sultan http://hotelyasmaksultan.com/ is A on the map below (B and C were our stops for Monday) very near Sultanahmet, which has many of the cultural and historical sights we would visit.  Many of the sights we would see on Saturday and Sunday were within a mile of the Yasmak Sultan, a nice boutique hotel with a great rooftop bar and restaurant. 

As can be seen above, Sultanahment is surrounded on three sides by water, the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus on the East, and the Golden Horn to the North. 

Our first stop on our afternoon walking tour was Aye Sofya (Hagia Sophia), with its massive dome, dating from about 537 AD.  Starting out as a christian church, then becoming a mosque before becoming a museum following the founding of the Turkish republic (in 1923) in the '30's.  http://www.ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en/

Here is the interior

One of the many murals, this one from the early 14th century.

Our next stop was the Basilica Cistern, a columned cavern that stored water for many of the times the city was under seige. 

After the cistern, we visited the Grand and Spice Bazaars, both within a mile of the previous stops and the hotel.  I have to say while the bazaars have their own rich history (I believe the Spice Bazaar is from the 1600s), I found them interesting but a bit touristy -- crowded, crazy labryinth-like indoor malls.     

The very similar looking Spice bazaar, basically the same as the Grand Bazaar except more of a foodie feel to it with part of it outdoors. 

We capped off the evening with a dinner nearby the hotel.  I had wanted to venture North of the Golden Horn into the more modern Beyoglu section of the city for some night life (some of the crew made it to feast which included belly dancing), but it was a cold rainy night and staying close by seemed like the better call.  We ate a nice restaurant called Pasazade recommended by my guide book Lonely Planet (overall was pretty good) right near the hotel.  Can't remember what I ate -- I'm thinking a lamb stew, but it was reasonable.  Grabbed a nightcap at nearby Scottish sports bar (when in Rome, or Istanbul as it were), but wanted to be well rested for the busy day of touring ahead.