A tram to the subway to another tram gets you from Sultanahmet to the Chora Church, now a museum.
The ceilings are beautiful even where the mosaic has peeled off.
I've seen a lot of Jesus depictions in churches, but this one was perhaps the most striking one so far.
The face of the woman kneeling at his feet was also stunning.
Maybe I liked this Jesus so much because the blue tiles that made up his clothing had a distinct shine to them. It isn't often that you see Jesus so... bedazzled.
A couple videos to hammer our visit to the Chora Church home. These are the first videos I've ever taken, so forgive the terrible camera work. I was experimenting.
In another hallway, these two ladies were eery. The missing tiles from their faces give them an Alfred Gorey feel.
Outside the church, on the way back to the tram, we climbed the city walls.
Back at Eminonu, right next to the Galata Bridge, festive boats grill fish for the most cost effective fish sandwiches.
They are delicious on the fresh bread. Buy the cup of red juice pickles, it's worth it. 2 fish sandwiches + pickle cup = 14 TL.
Afterwards, have a glass of Efes at any restaurant under the Galata Bridge and watch the boats go by. Is Efes particularly good? No. But it's Turkish and you are in Turkey and it's just fine. Drink it.
Take a Bosphorous Cruise. It's an absolute MUST. Buy tickets through the Sehir Hatlari booth near the Eminonu side of the Galata Bridge. We took the short cruise which didn't go all the way up to the Black Sea, but 2 1/2 hours up and down the Bosphorus was plenty of time and water for us. It cost 10 TTL (Turkish lira) per person. At the time of our trip, $1 = just over 2 TL. So, yeah, the Short Bosphorus Cruise is a great value.
You'll see European influenced palaces like Dolmabahce...
...random castles...
...and gorgeous mosques like this one in Ortakoy...
Just a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon. The water so clean and teal.
Baklava, pistachio something or other, and that bird nest cashew thing was unexpectedly tasty.
Dinner at Ziya Baba. Delicious grilled meat. Ate outside in a quiet neighborhood with a couple of cute cats begging at our feet. It's strange, and I never got used to the begging cats on our trip. 2 kebab plates + tip = 31 TL.
Raki on a rooftop bar.
No, this is not photoshopped. The Istanbul rooftops really are this colorful.
Seagulls flying around the Blue Mosque was hypnotic.
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