GOLDEN HORN METRO BRIDGE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge along the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, spanning the Golen Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.

It connects the Beyoglu and Fatish districts on the European side of Istanbul, and is located between the GalataBridge and Ataturk Bridge, approximately 200 m (660 ft) east of the latter.

The bridge enables a direct connection between the Hacıosman metro station in the Sariyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), with the Yenikapi transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.

--Wiki

THE LIGHT OF ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Savvy photographers start lining up about an hour from sundown along the Galata Bridge.

They aim toward the northwest to photograph the amazing light show -- in red, orange, yellow and purple -- that the sun makes setting over mosques, bridges and water.

BOSPHORUS CRUISE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Tour boats line up to take tourists and locals on magical tours of the Bosphorus.

Some take short tours and turn around near the bridge by Ortakoy.

Some go all the way to the mouth of the Black Sea.

The tours are very inexpensive. 

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

To the right (southeast) of the main entrance to Süleymaniye Mosque is the cemetery, home to the octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). 

The tile work surrounding the entrances to both is superb and the ivory-inlaid panels in Süleyman's tomb are lovely.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The main entrance to the Süleymaniye Mosque is accessed from Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, formerly known as Tiryaki Çarşışı (Market of the Addicts).

The buildings here once housed three medreses and a primary school; they're now home to the Süleymaniye Library and a raft of popular streetside fasulye (bean) restaurants that used to be teahouses selling opium (hence the street's former name). 

On the corner of Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi and Şifahane Sokak is the darüşşifa, also under restoration.

The still-functioning Süleymaniye Hamamı is on the eastern side of the mosque.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Süleyman specified that his mosque should have the full complement of public services: imaret (soup kitchen), medrese, hamam, darüşşifa (hospital) etc. 

Today the imaret, with its charming garden courtyard, houses the Daruzziyafe cafe and is a lovely place to enjoy a çay. 

On its right-hand side (north) is a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that was being restored at the time of writing, and on its left-hand side (south) is Lale Bahcesi, a popular tea garden set in a sunken courtyard.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque mihrab (niche in a minaret indicating the direction of Mecca) is covered in fine İznik tiles.

Other interior decoration includes window shutters inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gorgeous stained-glass windows, painted muqarnas (corbels with honeycomb detail), a spectacular persimmon-coloured floor carpet, painted pendentives and medallions featuring fine calligraphy.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

In the garden behind the Süleymaniye Mosque is a terrace offering lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. 

The street underneath once housed the mosque complex's arasta (street of shops), which was built into the retaining wall of the terrace. Close by was a five-level mülazim(preparatory school).

Inside, the building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity. Sinan incorporated the four buttresses into the walls of the building.

The result is wonderfully 'transparent' (ie open and airy) and highly reminiscent of Aya Sofya, especially as the dome is nearly as large as the one that crowns the Byzantine basilica.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built between 1550 and 1557. 

Its setting and plan are particularly pleasing, featuring gardens and a three-sided forecourt with a central domed ablutions fountain. 

The four minarets with their 10 beautiful şerefes (balconies) are said to represent the fact that Süleyman was the fourth of the Osmanlı sultans to rule the city and the 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. 

Though it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest and most beautiful. 

It's also unusual in that many of its original külliye (mosque complex) buildings have been retained and sympathetically adapted for reuse.

Commissioned by Süleyman I, known as 'the Magnificent', the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul and it certainly lives up to its patron's nickname.

The mosque and its surrounding buildings were designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. 

Sinan's türbe (tomb) is just outside the mosque's walled garden, next to a disused medrese (seminary) building.

--Lonely Planet

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters there, and walls were built along the shoreline to protect the city of Constantinople from naval attacks. 

At the entrance to the Golden Horn on the northern side, a large chain was pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata to prevent unwanted ships from entering. 

Known among the Byzantines as the Megàlos Pyrgos (meaning "Great Tower" in Greek), this tower was largely destroyed by the Latin Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.

In 1348, the Genoese built a new tower nearby which they called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ), now called Galata Tower.

--Wikipedia

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Archaeological records show a significant urban presence on and around the Golden Horn dating back to at least the 7th century BC, with smaller settlements going as far back as 6700 BC as confirmed by recent discoveries of ancient ports, storage facilities, and fleets of trade ships unearthed during the construction works of the Yenikapi subway station and the Marmaray tunnel project.

Indeed, the deep natural harbor provided by the Golden Horn has always been a major economic attraction and strategic military advantage for inhabitants of the area, and the Eastern Roman colonizers that established Nova Roma along its shores, which became, in order, Byzantium, Constantinople, , and ultimately, Istanbul, were no different.

--Wiki

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn’s Greek and English names mean the same, while its Turkish name, Haliç, simply means "estuary", and is derived from the Arabic word khaleej, meaning “gulf". 

Throughout its storied past, the Golden Horn has witnessed many tumultuous historical incidents, and its dramatic vistas have been the subject of countless works of art.

--Wikipedia

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

While the reference to a "horn" is understood to refer to the inlet's general shape, the significance of the designation "golden" is more obscure.

Historians believe it to refer to either the riches brought into the city through the bustling historic harbor located along its shores, or to romantic artistic interpretations of the rich yellow light blazing upon the estuary's waters as the sun sets over the city. 

--Wiki

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn geographically separates the historic center of Istanbul from the rest of the city, and forms a natural, sheltered harbor that has historically protected Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other maritime trade ships for thousands of years.

--Wikipedia

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn also known by its modern Turkish name as Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bophorus in Istanbul, Turkey.

This prominent body of water is a horn-shaped estuary that joins Bosphorus Strait at the immediate point where the strait meets the Sea of Marmara,

It forms a narrow, isolated peninsula, the tip of which is "Old Istanbul" (ancient Byzantium and Constantinople), and Seraglio Point. 

--Wiki

GLAMOUR HOTEL -- 3

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

A Glamour Hotel single room is small -- about 150 square feet. The bathrooms are extremely small.

But you're not in one of the world's greatest cities to linger in the room.

You simply want clean, quiet, convenient, well-staffed and efficient.

Glamour gets at least 4.5 stars of 5 in each of those categories.

A stay during Ramazan was about $60 per night -- taxes and breakfast included.

The area is amazingly quiet -- and Istanbul is a pretty noisy city.

The bedding was excellent -- comfortable as a 5-star palace and 3-star prices.

The AC worked fine and there was an empty mini fridge, which came in handy for storing bottled water, soda and gourmet chocolate.

The best thing is the restaurants are far less expensive than the more touristy Sultanahmet or Beyoglu areas.

The food is even better and you will be eating among locals in Hocapasa Mahallesi.

I'd venture to say that locals outnumbered visitors 4 to 1 on the narrow, pedestrian streets around the Glamour Hotel.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/

GLAMOUR HOTEL - 2

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

The Glamour Hotel is footsteps from the Sirkeci tram stop and very close to the Marmara Subway in the old Sirkeci Station that was the terminus for the famed Orient Express.

The Eminonu ferry docks are 5 minutes way.

The Glamour has a rooftop terrace with views of the Bosphorus and city.

The breakfast buffet, included with the room, is amazing.

Tons of breads, fruits, olives, cheeses, dips, salads, jams, pastries and more.

They actually have a real chef that oversees the 50+ item fresh buffet.

Wonderful Turkish tea is made to order. Juices and coffee also are included.

The front desk staff speaks excellent English and can give tips on what to pay for a taxi (so you don't get overly upcharged) and where to head on a rainy day.

Service is outstanding and rooms are spotless.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/

GLAMOUR HOTEL

SIRKECI, ISTANBUL

Sirkeci is one of my favorite places in Istanbul.

You can walk five minutes and be at the many terminals that launch ferries to the Asian Side, the Princes Islands, up the Golden Horn and to many ports along the Bosphorus, all the way to the edge of the Black Sea.

There must be nearly 100 small hotels, almost all 3 star, family-operated places that have clean, quiet, well-located rooms for about $50 USD per day including breakfast and taxes.

There is a tram stop in Sirkeci that will take you to Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Plaza and just about anywhere you want to be in the old city.

It also crosses the Galata Bridge and takes you as far as Kabatas in Beyoglu.

The subway line is close by as well.

Glamour Hotel is an excellent budget hotel in Sirkeci.

http://www.glamourhotel.com/

THE LIGHT OF ISTANBUL

MAGICAL

How else do you describe your first day in Istanbul?

You are exhausted from a 12 hour flight in coach...and a 7 hour time difference.

But you walk...from Beyazit to Sultanahmet Square.

You continue past Sirkeci Station -- where the Orient Express used to stop.

You make it to Eminonu and think of Orhan Pamuk's books with chapters that involve the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the ferry docks where they meet.

You press on, denying sleep...for a balik ekmek from a gleaming Ottoman-adorned boat.

You board a ferry (you can cross from Europe to Asia for less than 2 bucks U.S. dollars).

You look back at the new Galata Bridge.

The restaurants on the lower lever are tourist traps, but colorful.

The fisherman that line the top level.

Are they there for a fresh balik, or just enjoying one of the world's most magical views in their own hometown?

You hold still, the water is churning like crazy under the hurried ferry to Karikoy.

You gaze up at the New Mosque. Only in Istanbul could something that broke ground more than 400 years ago be considered the "new" thing.

The sun is Halloween orange.

You have slept only 3 of the last 30 hours.

But you are the luckiest person on earth.