TL20160603Istanbul

Turkey's Magical Hideaways June 1 - 17, 2016

June 3, 2016 Istanbul, Walking tour, Cruise the Bosporus

After breakfast at our hotel, we set off early on a comprehensive exploration of Istanbul;
the historic city formerly called Byzantium and later Constantinople.

Istanbul is a sprawling city of 13 million people, partly in Europe and partly in Asia, with its geography defined
by three famous waterways: the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus Strait, and the Golden Horn.
The Sea of Marmara lies to the south. The Bosporus Strait divides the European and Asian sections of the city
and forms the route from the Marmara to the Black Sea. The Golden Horn divides European Istanbul into
the modern Beyoglu section to the north and Old Stamboul (Eski Istanbul) to the south.
The famous Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn to link these two parts of the city.

This morning, we'll discover some of Istanbul's most famous sites on foot, including Topkapi Palace.
Mehmet the Conqueror started building this complex in about 1459 and it served as the royal palace of
the Ottoman sultans until 1853.
Today, it is one of the world's richest museums, with a staggering collection of jewels, arms, porcelain, sculpture, manuscripts,
and more.
We'll also stroll the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Here,
we'll have plenty of time to browse in some of its 3,600 shops and wander along its 58 streets.
Goods are grouped by category, so if we have a special gift in mind, be sure to ask our Trip Leader for directions so that
we can find it easily. We'll also have time here to enjoy lunch at a place of our choosing.
Afterward, we explore the Spice Market, the second-largest market in the city, which has 88 rooms.
A stroll through this market is a thrill to the senses, with many colors and scents to experience.

This afternoon, we take to the water for our Bosporus cruise. We can look north to the “European” district of Galata,
or east to the Asiatic side of the Bosporus and the Maiden’s Tower. In ancient times, the Golden Horn could be closed off
to warships with a giant chain stretching from here to Seraglio Point.
Following our cruise, we enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

(From OAT Itinerary)