One last day in Istanbul

We both love this city. Even as we curse ourselves for forgetting to shut the windows and are woken at 5am by the call to prayer at the surrounding mosques, we are both enthralled by the ancient sound that fills the dawn.

We have one final day here. We want to eat wonderful food, delight in the overcrowded streets bustling with life, smell the breeze laden with a million exotic fragrances, feel the caress of warm air, and be stopped in our tracks as we discover new marvels at every turn. We know it is impossible to have our fill of Istanbul in this short time and vow to come back.

And for today we focus on Ayasofia and the Basilica Cistern.

The cistern is and underground cavern created in the Byzantine era to provide a reservoir for times of drought or siege. It is a remarkable feat of building, a subterranean wonderland and also has some delightful flights of fancy for such a practical place, such as columns that rest on Medusa’s head (the photo is not upside down as you can see by the people in the background).

Ayasofia was originally built as a cathedral - 1500 years ago! Later taken over by Moslems and turned into a mosque, and now finally a museum.