Today will mostly be a transit day I think. Pickup from the hotel at 8 for transfer to Izmir to catch the 10.50 flight to Istanbul. Not sure what size plane we will be on.
OK so we have now arrived back in Istanbul, having realised it was a 9.50 flight. We have been elevated to the fifth floor of our hotel. Stunning views of the Blue Mosque and out to the ocean.
OMG though, because it is Sunday, the Grand Bazaar and 80% of the shops are closed. Luckily there are enough left for me to shop in. I bought some nice cushion covers and a couple of bits and pieces.
As you can imagine, the suitcase is bulging just a little. We had lunch in the little cafe down the road, and we are now going to walk it off by a visit to the Hagia Sophia. It was busy last week when we tried it.
What an amazing place, the pictures will not do it justice, it is just so big. A fairly grand entrance!
This is one of several different types of sarcophagus at the front entrance.
The first thing to catch your eye is the main dome of the building, ornately painted and at least three floors high.
This is a popular icon in Turkey, it is the Sultan's signature, this one made from very fine mosaic.
Beneath the dome is a gorgeous mosaic of Mary and the Baby Jesus
Here is a closer view taken from the top level.
There are many ornate nooks and crannies, here is Andy standing in front of a beautifully engraved marble facade. If you look carefully behind him, it is a stairway leading to the pulpit area where they gave their sermon from.
As you stand on the ground floor and look at the lights, they just look like nice fancy lights
But when you climb up the the second level and look down, you get the full picture - it is like a fairlyand of lighted flowers.
This is the Royal Box so the Sultan could have the best view
This is another shot from the first level, which by the way meant climbing up 6 or 7 ramps, it was never ending.
This is the view out of one of the top floor windows. The two domes in the foreground are part of the Hagia Sophia and you are looking at the Blue Mosque in the background.
This is one of the sections where they have partially restored the mosaics.
Andy listening to the talking machine, in front of a pair of marble doors. When we got the machine, we had to leave our passport as collateral.
This is actually a poster of a professional picture of the painted roof of the church.
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