Istanbul, June 30
More than 13 million people live within the city limits of Istanbul. I think half that number were riding the trams whenever we boarded them to explore a new part of the city. Add a fleet of tour buses and Istanbul is a very happening place.
We stayed in a tranquil hotel in a refurbished Ottoman building dating to the late 1800s. The deck under a 160-year-old walnut tree provided a cool and shaded oasis for our morning coffee or evening glass of wine. From this base in Sultanhamet, the old city, we walked up narrow cobbled streets to see the city’s great mosques, some dating back to the Byzantine era when they were constructed as churches.
Here are some of the remarkable sights we saw on our first afternoon in this most fascinating city.
The Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia Interior
The ceilings are beautiful
Domed Ceiling of the Hagia Sophia
Süleymaniye Mosque Courtyard
The Basilica Cistern
The Aqueduct
102 Hours 
I love Istanbul. Very envious.
We loved it, too, and are now on our two-week driving trip to see some other parts of Turkey.
Scott