Istanbul - (29th March - 2nd April)
One of the first things we noticed when
we arrived in Istanbul, is that it is one of the most floral cities
we have visited! There are flowers absolutely everywhere, especially
tulips!! All sorts of colours line the highways, border the pathways
and circle the trees.
Beautiful Magenta Tulips in bloom
Nicely manicured gardens around the blue mosque
The Blue mosque was a very impressive
building and just as beautiful inside. Gorgeous stained glass,
Arabic Calligraphy and impressive tiled walls.
Entry was free and don't forget your
scarf!!
The blue mosque from the outside
The blue mosque, inside
The blue mosque, inside
Walking the streets
in Istanbul, there is always something to see. From men selling the
famous 'Simit' by carrying on their heads, beautifully contrasting
buildings, the freshest fruit you have ever seen to quaint little
cafe's.
The streets around the Fatih area
A 'Simit' seller
A Cute shopfront window
Beautiful Turkish lanterns for sale
View from Beyazit tram stop towards the water
Super fresh fruit, ready for juicing!
The Grand Bazaar is
full of character and everything a tourist could want. From magnets
to turkish tiles, traditional shoes to turkish delight – this is
the place to do your shopping!
The Grand Bazaar Entrance
Gülhane
Park was a beautiful place to take in the beautiful surrounds, relax
and once again, take advantage of the beautiful flowers in Istanbul. Close
to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, this park is definitely one we
would recommend stopping by.
Gülhane Park
Gülhane Park - lavender!
Gülhane Park
Beautifully painted ceiling
Stained glass and decorative lighting
We
reached Taksim square by the Fernicular which was only 3 Turkish Lira
per person ($1.50AUD) and was a lot easier than walking the super
steep hill up there!
On the fernicular!
Taksim Square
We
made our way down İstiklal Avenue which is 1.4 Kilometres long, and
full of clothing stores, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafe's.
İstiklal Avenue
The
nearby Galata tower was built in 1348 and stands right out, as you
wander down the bustling street towards Kadıköy and Galata bridge.
Galata tower
The
vibrant fish markets at the start of Galata Bridge is full of fresh
fish and happy faces. Although not very big – we still managed to
chat to a few of the local fishermen and get some nice pictures!
Fresh fish for sale!
The locals reckon it tastes pretty good!
The
Galata bridge offers beautiful views of the various mosques and
monuments in the area and is a great place to watch locals try their
luck fishing.
Galata Bridge
A
cruise of the Bosphorous is a must do and at 10 Turkish Lira ($5AUD)
for a 2 hour cruise it is great value.
The Bosphorous bridge
The Bosphorous bridge
We absolutely loved Istanbul, its vibrancy and culture rich and diverse.
No comments:
Post a Comment