photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Istanbul Oct. 5-8, 2015 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Istanbul Oct. 5-8, 2015

Spent 2/3 of a day on a cruise and then 2 days on our own. Flew back to DC via Frankfurt. Fabulous cruise. Istanbul was amazing and a great way to end our 2015 adventure.

Note there are multiple pages, plus another Gallery entitled "Istanbul - More"
Double click a picture to see a larger version - or run a slideshow.

Pictures by Ruth and Howard.
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ALL next page
View from ship maybe 15 minutes before docking
View from ship maybe 15 minutes before docking		 Aya Sofya & Ahirkapi Light from ship 15 minutes predock
Aya Sofya & Ahirkapi Light from ship 15 minutes predock		 First impression: ferries rushing everywhere
First impression: ferries rushing everywhere		 Kiz Kulesi tower while docking
Kiz Kulesi tower while docking		 Passed Topkapi Palace - huge place.
Passed Topkapi Palace - huge place.		 I viewed our arrival on Viking Star from deck 2 aft
I viewed our arrival on Viking Star from deck 2 aft
Istanbul is looking to be pretty fascinating
Istanbul is looking to be pretty fascinating		 Got to see some nice things before we slid in between Norwegian Spirit & Nautica
Got to see some nice things before we slid in between Norwegian Spirit & Nautica		 Took included excursion; here's Kiz Kulesi, AKA Leanders or Maidens Tower
Took included excursion; here's Kiz Kulesi, AKA Leanders or Maidens Tower		 So many mosques in Istanbul with 5 or 6 calls to prayer a day
So many mosques in Istanbul with 5 or 6 calls to prayer a day		 Dolmabahce Palace from water
Dolmabahce Palace from water		 Former Galatasaray University
Former Galatasaray University
Ortakoy Mosque, Euro side of Bosporus.
Ortakoy Mosque, Euro side of Bosporus.		 Rumeli Hisari Fortress and Fatih Bridge Euro side
Rumeli Hisari Fortress and Fatih Bridge Euro side		 Lots of traffic on the Bosporus
Lots of traffic on the Bosporus		 Wish I had paid more attention to the narration. Tip: Don't sit in the back, where it's hard to hear Viking guide.
Wish I had paid more attention to the narration. Tip: Don't sit in the back, where it's hard to hear Viking guide.		 Being interested in architecture I really enjoyed this cruise.
Being interested in architecture I really enjoyed this cruise.		 Toilet paper on Bosporos boat cruise - grab before you go in.
Toilet paper on Bosporos boat cruise - grab before you go in.
Back to Eminonu to go to a mosque. Galata Tower looked nice around 4pm.
Back to Eminonu to go to a mosque. Galata Tower looked nice around 4pm.		 Ruth outside Rustem Pasa Mosque
Ruth outside Rustem Pasa Mosque		 We took off shoes, women put on scarves and we visited pretty Rustem Pasa mosque in Eminonu
We took off shoes, women put on scarves and we visited pretty Rustem Pasa mosque in Eminonu		 Other than a few worshippers & a few tourists, the Viking folks were alone - fabulous.
Other than a few worshippers & a few tourists, the Viking folks were alone - fabulous.		 Rustem Pasa was not large but it was beautiful.
Rustem Pasa was not large but it was beautiful.		 Beautiful blue iznik tiles
Beautiful blue iznik tiles
Rustem Pasa mosque
Rustem Pasa mosque		 Rustem Pasa
Rustem Pasa		 Beautiful, small, non touristy Rustem Pasa
Beautiful, small, non touristy Rustem Pasa		 Got views of New Mosque,Spice Market, info, then back to ship via bus for dinner & last night of cruise.
Got views of New Mosque,Spice Market, info, then back to ship via bus for dinner & last night of cruise.		 Left ship next morning & took cab to Hotel Alilass in Sultanahmet below Blue Mosque - run by 2 incredibly helpful sisters.
Left ship next morning & took cab to Hotel Alilass in Sultanahmet below Blue Mosque - run by 2 incredibly helpful sisters.		 Hotel Alilass garden gazebo was nice for breakfast
Hotel Alilass garden gazebo was nice for breakfast
Momma cat outside Hotel Alilass enclosed breakfast room.
Momma cat outside Hotel Alilass enclosed breakfast room.		 Mom and child near gazebo - so sweet.
Mom and child near gazebo - so sweet.		 Jetomatik machine at tram. Be sure to have liras, no credit cards.
Jetomatik machine at tram. Be sure to have liras, no credit cards.		 T1 tram. 4 Turkish lira gives plastic token. Handy for cruise pax.
T1 tram. 4 Turkish lira gives plastic token. Handy for cruise pax.		 Blue Mosque on Wed., sunny day
Blue Mosque on Wed., sunny day		 Blue Mosque with fountain and all 6 minarets showing
Blue Mosque with fountain and all 6 minarets showing
Basilica Cistern. Got there 8:45 for 9 opening. Were 2nd & 3rd in line.
Basilica Cistern. Got there 8:45 for 9 opening. Were 2nd & 3rd in line. 		Cistern is underground from 6th C, has 336 marble columns.
Cistern is underground from 6th C, has 336 marble columns.		 Peacock eyes - see a lot of them in Istanbul
Peacock eyes - see a lot of them in Istanbul		 Howard's great shot of sideways medusa head.
Howard's great shot of sideways medusa head.		 Howard's best medusa head upside down
Howard's best medusa head upside down		 At end are Medusa heads lying sideways and upside down
At end are Medusa heads lying sideways and upside down
Medusa head
Medusa head		 Medusa head
Medusa head		 Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque		 One of many stray dogs we saw in Istanbul
One of many stray dogs we saw in Istanbul		 Hagia Sophia's minarets reminded me of NASA rockets
Hagia Sophia's minarets reminded me of NASA rockets		 A stray dog finds a friend in the park, if only for a half hour
A stray dog finds a friend in the park, if only for a half hour
Hagia Sophia was prettier to me than Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia was prettier to me than Blue Mosque		 The call to prayer, ezan, was intense
The call to prayer, ezan, was intense		 Think this is Hurem Sultan Hamami baths from 1556.
Think this is Hurem Sultan Hamami baths from 1556.		 Top of inside of gate,Topkapi Palace
Top of inside of gate,Topkapi Palace		 Topkapi Gate with Blue Mosque
Topkapi Gate with Blue Mosque		 We didn't visit a nargile cafe, although there were many near the port. Saw these pipes in Arasta Bazaar near hotel.
We didn't visit a nargile cafe, although there were many near the port. Saw these pipes in Arasta Bazaar near hotel.
Walked through Arasta Bazaar near hotel - beautiful stuff.
Walked through Arasta Bazaar near hotel - beautiful stuff.		 As everywhere there were spice shops with beautiful spices
As everywhere there were spice shops with beautiful spices		 Saw Aya Sofya a lot but best view was on sunny day.
Saw Aya Sofya a lot but best view was on sunny day.		 Took tram to Eminonu, bought ferry tokens, waited to get on big ferry to go to Kadikoy, Asian side
Took tram to Eminonu, bought ferry tokens, waited to get on big ferry to go to Kadikoy, Asian side		 From Eminonu - got nice view of tower on Wed.
From Eminonu - got nice view of tower on Wed.		 Blue Mosque & Ahirkapi lighthouse from ferry
Blue Mosque & Ahirkapi lighthouse from ferry
Food and food for sale in Istanbul is amazing.
Food and food for sale in Istanbul is amazing.		 Galata Tower from off of Istiklal Street.
Galata Tower from off of Istiklal Street.		 Feeding the gulls on the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul
Feeding the gulls on the ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul		 Star and Zuiderdam at Salipazari dock.
Star and Zuiderdam at Salipazari dock.		 Think these are New, Sulimaniye and Rustem Pasa mosques, but not sure (from ferry dock for Kadikoy)
Think these are New, Sulimaniye and Rustem Pasa mosques, but not sure (from ferry dock for Kadikoy)		 Galata Tower from ferry Wed. afternoon
Galata Tower from ferry Wed. afternoon
Anglers on top & restaurants beneath on Galata
Anglers on top & restaurants beneath on Galata		 Fish boat restaurants in Eminonu were busy
Fish boat restaurants in Eminonu were busy		 We had never seen a water vacuum for trash before
We had never seen a water vacuum for trash before		 Aya Sofya or Hagia Sofia looks beautiful today
Aya Sofya or Hagia Sofia looks beautiful today		 From hotel, walked to Ahirkapi lighthouse on Sultanahmet waterfront
From hotel, walked to Ahirkapi lighthouse on Sultanahmet waterfront		 On way back I saw this old house
On way back I saw this old house
On way to airport hotel from Alilass, passed these fortifications
On way to airport hotel from Alilass, passed these fortifications		 Turkey seems to have a large number of large flags
Turkey seems to have a large number of large flags		 First rain Tues. in almost 2 weeks but didn't last long
First rain Tues. in almost 2 weeks but didn't last long		 Sultan Ahmet mosque through a bus window on included tour
Sultan Ahmet mosque through a bus window on included tour		 We took funicular up to Taksim Square. Here's monument.
We took funicular up to Taksim Square. Here's monument.		 Ate dinner at Arcadia Blue Hotel rooftop restaurant - food was good and view fabulous
Ate dinner at Arcadia Blue Hotel rooftop restaurant - food was good and view fabulous
Sultan Ahmet mosque at night
Sultan Ahmet mosque at night		 Different angle
Different angle		 Loved the simit - bread with sesame seeds and usually a little grape syrup
Loved the simit - bread with sesame seeds and usually a little grape syrup		 Stray dog with ear tag - we assumed had been spayed/neutered
Stray dog with ear tag - we assumed had been spayed/neutered		 Beautiful Blue Mosque and blue sky
Beautiful Blue Mosque and blue sky		 Howard had pide, or Turkish pizza, at Ciya in Kadikoy
Howard had pide, or Turkish pizza, at Ciya in Kadikoy
I had lamb shish kebab Turkish style at Ciya - delicious
I had lamb shish kebab Turkish style at Ciya - delicious		 Fish display in Kadikoy
Fish display in Kadikoy		 On bus to Bosporus cruise, saw simit vendor walking casually down the street.
On bus to Bosporus cruise, saw simit vendor walking casually down the street.		 Some of the city walls from Viking bus trip
Some of the city walls from Viking bus trip		 Love the pink in Sultanahmet area of Istanbul
Love the pink in Sultanahmet area of Istanbul		 Let sleeping stray dogs lie. At least they didn't appear to be starving.
Let sleeping stray dogs lie. At least they didn't appear to be starving.
Flags at Taksim Square played with in Photoshop.
Flags at Taksim Square played with in Photoshop.		 We walked down Istiklal from this Taksim Square Monument
We walked down Istiklal from this Taksim Square Monument		 Shop along Istiklal
Shop along Istiklal		 Blue tiles everywhere, even in stores
Blue tiles everywhere, even in stores		 Sweets to go by the box. Have them mailed home.
Sweets to go by the box. Have them mailed home. 		X-ray machines to get in upscale shopping center, Istiklal
X-ray machines to get in upscale shopping center, Istiklal
Antique tram ran between Taksim Sq bottom of Istiklal
Antique tram ran between Taksim Sq bottom of Istiklal		 Random shot on Istiklal
Random shot on Istiklal		 Random shot on Istiklal
Random shot on Istiklal		 Istiklal was almost wall to wall bodies in spots
Istiklal was almost wall to wall bodies in spots		 A few blocks of lower Istiklal St. were filled with music shops
A few blocks of lower Istiklal St. were filled with music shops		 A lot of care was given to displays
A lot of care was given to displays
Beware the minarets with speakers
Beware the minarets with speakers		 Food in Turkey was awesome, including lots of lamb.
Food in Turkey was awesome, including lots of lamb.		 Howard at Blue Mosque.
Howard at Blue Mosque.		 Carpet salesmen were everywhere. Once in a while Howard would joke with them.
Carpet salesmen were everywhere. Once in a while Howard would joke with them. 		View during dinner at Arcadia Blue Hotel rooftop restaurant.
View during dinner at Arcadia Blue Hotel rooftop restaurant.		 Loved Turkish version of a chandalier. They were everywhere.
Loved Turkish version of a chandalier. They were everywhere.
The lamps looked even more beautiful at night
The lamps looked even more beautiful at night		 Shish kebab Turkish style at Ciya Kadikoy
Shish kebab Turkish style at Ciya Kadikoy		 Ortakoy mosque under the bridge from Bosporus cruise
Ortakoy mosque under the bridge from Bosporus cruise		 Istanbul haze: Galata Bridge with anglers & shops; Howard got it all.
Istanbul haze: Galata Bridge with anglers & shops; Howard got it all.		 Stayed last night near airport at Tempo Suites Airport - hilarious when you turned on the blue (purple) lights. Comfy place.
Stayed last night near airport at Tempo Suites Airport - hilarious when you turned on the blue (purple) lights. Comfy place. 		So so picture but great place-Melvana Pide in Bahcelievler
So so picture but great place-Melvana Pide in Bahcelievler
By Tempo Suites, ate at Melvana Pide. These guys ordered the four foot long pide.
By Tempo Suites, ate at Melvana Pide. These guys ordered the four foot long pide. 		Hopping neighborhood out near the airport! Next day, up early to fly home (sigh!)
Hopping neighborhood out near the airport! Next day, up early to fly home (sigh!)
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ALL next page

comment | share
click on thumbnails for full image