Istanbul has one of the most majestic settings of any great city, with its hilly neighboroods and legendary sea arms, the GOLDEN HORN and BOSPHORUS, helping to split the city between modern and classical, asian and european, religious and secular, young and old, and sometimes, one on top of the other, reflected in its neighborood life, as its people go about their daily lives .

yet, because of its rich heritage and complex recent history, it does not deliver itself as easily as other cities, and my week there was merely scratching the surface, getting first but lasting impressions, all while walking miles and miles, and catching on with my long-lasting desire to visit this fascinating cradle of civilization.

(watch original size, F11 for full screen)