Basilicia Cistern

Turks call it Yerebatan Sarayi (yeh-reh-bah-tahn sah-rah-yuh) which means "sunken palace". Because it was built on the site of an earlier basilica it is often called the "Basilica Cistern"

This vast underground reservoir dates back to Byzantine Emperor Justinian's reign in the sixth century A.D.




Built to supply Constantinople's need for water, this giant reservoir was big enough to hold 27 million gallons of fresh water. Clay pipes and aqueducts brought water 12 miles to the reservoir.

The cistern is as big as two football fields sand has 336 columns, most recycled from Roman ruins in the city, resulting in a variety of capitals.

Today the cistern is a shallow pond, filled with rain water that seeps through the ceiling (and down on your head). The walk around was fascinating with the soft lighting and reflections

There are good-luck coins and fish, too

Startlingly, a medusa heads is found at the base of two separate columns. Speculation is that the architect needed two blocks of a certain height to go with two columns of a certain height and recycled the medusas. 

I'm sure the architect never imagined millions of tourists walking around the cistern looking at an upside-down medusa head! The other head is on its side.

Next door to the cistern in the Medusa Restaurant--head right side up!

The Istanbul Spice Market

Turkey is well known for the quality and variety of spices both locally grown and imported. A unique outlet for them is an open air market in the Old Town section of Istanbul. Last night we visited the Spice Market after dinner nearby.

Most of the Spice Market booths are a feast for the eye as well as the palate.

 

Are my eyes deceiving me?  Did someone slip in a candy stand?

Turkey is well known for Biber Salcasi, a red pepper paste made from chills and salt.

Some spices are sold in larger pieces, often strung together.

We were invited into one vendor's special "back room," for a cup of apple tea and a chance to see his special stock.  Half an hour later, we left poorer, but with 5 grams of saffron in my pocket and a half liter of apple tea in Irene's backpack.

We resisted the urge to buy jasmine, as well.

The route in and through the Spice Market is so narrow that deliveries are made the old fashioned way.

Olives may not be spices, but they are sold in the Spice Market.

To be honest, I must say that many other nonspice vendors have found heir way into the Spice Market; so, you are never sure what you are going to find along the way.

The Big Picture of Istanbul

 Our hotel room has a beautiful 10th floor view of the Bosphorus and a window seat to sit upon and enjoy.

The bridge across the Bosphorus is lit in purple at night

The Bosphorus or Bosporus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia

Istanbul (and Turkey) lie on both sides of the strait

Leaving the hotel we went to the 205 ft. stone Galata Tower (tallest structure below) for more great views.

The Galata Tower sits on a hill in the New District of Istanbul 

From the 8th floor we had wonderful 360 degree views of the city.

Looking south, the Mosque of Suleyman the Great catches the eye with it's four minarets

Closer view

The view toward the Suleyman Mosque looks across the Golden Horn.

The Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus that forms the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of years.

Look at the Bosphorus Strait map again (above). The two tiny lines are bridges across the Golden Horn. The peninsula formed south of the Golden Horn is where the Old City originated. 

Our stroll took us across the Golden Horn on the Galata bridge. 

Crossing the Galata Bridge is a feast of eye candy. Toms of people, stunning views and gulls screaming and circling overhead.

The mosque on the far left is the New Mosque.

Close-up view of the colorful boats.

Once you reach the other side you are in the Old City and it time to eat! We found a wonderful restaurant on the third floor of a harbor-side building.

The smoking balcony had wonderful views.

Looking back across the Golden Horn, and the Galata bridge and the tower where we started.

The New Mosque

Coming down from high perches, we walked along the streets...

Spring has sprung

The grass has ris

I wonder  where

The flowers is...

HERE!

Little white blossoms peppered this tree

This tree also had delicate white blossoms. Apples were tied on it, perhaps to encourage the tree to grow apples rather than...say, apricots

Whatever the reason, it was lost in translation! 

 The gentleman on the cell phone wrangled us (we were willing) into his restaurant. His wife is from Columbus, Ohio

We finished out walking tour, returned to the hotel and noticed that there was salsa dancing in the hotel (that's our guess).

Dance Alert, Tom and Roxanne!!!

Also advertised was Easter brunch this Sunday.

Happy Easter!

A Walk Down Istiklal Caddesi

Istiklal Caddesi, "Independence Street" in English, has been described as "the main street leading through the heart of Art Nouveau Istanbul." Certain things struck my fancy as Irene and I strolled down Istiklal Street with cameras in hand our first morning in Istanbul. 

 Please forgive any reflections in these photographs because I often shot through shop windows.

My first impression was the throngs of people out on a weekday morning.

 

I am always interested in local foods.  Growing up in New England, I learned about "chestnuts roasting the over an open fire."  There actually is an open fire beneath the pan under the vendor's left arm.

Traditional Turkish cooking is an art form, and these cooks perform it in front of a salivating audience.

This veteran cook is slicing lamb from a rotisserie.

I am not sure what is inside these pastry delicacies, but I think it was warm honey that I saw dripping off of some of them.

One window was filled with exquisite cakes.

Some treats contain natural sugars.

Pomegranates are squeezed into fresh juice in front of your eyes.

Finally, there is chocolate!

This man is literally surrounded by chocolate bars, as well as customers.

This ad filled an entire building wall, but I didn't see a restaurant to go with it.

One thing about the clothing's stores interested me.

Although I haven't seen a lot of bald people here, many of the display mannequins lacked hair.

We were obviously having a good time.

One of the shopkeepers came out and offered to take our picture.

This jewelry display caught our attention.

This one did, too.  

There are a lot of blue eyes for sale.  We will have to learn their significance.

This man is using a grinding wheel to sharpen knives.

This man uses a different kind of wheel to advertise the lottery tickets he is selling.

Even on Istiklal Caddesi, there is room for graffiti.

After a bend and narrowing of the road, we came across

 a whole community of music instrument shops.

We had planned a couple of hours on Istiklal Caddesi, but we spent half the morning and all afternoon, and the only things we bought were coffee and some roasted chestnuts, but not together.