This morning Barry and i left the kids in bed and went to the museum of Hagia Sophia on our own. This former Christian church turned mosque turned museum is supposedly the best preserved building of the Byzantium period. It was built in 537 and has survived fires, earthquakes and pillaging. It's the 8th oldest surviving church in the world. But beyond all that, it's huge and beautiful, in an old and partially restored kind of way. The dome is so high that the Statue of Liberty would fit inside. The Christian mosaic that has been uncovered from plaster as well as the Islamic caligraphy are beautiful. It's strange to see the pieces side by side in one building.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
After our rather slow-paced visit, we returned to the hotel and found the kids fed, dressed and ready to go to the aquarium. Barry was a good sport and took the kids so that I could visit some places I hadn't had time to see (or cooperative companions to go with). My first stop was a mosaic tile museum that would have bored the three of them immensely. I liked it. When I returned outside to the cold, but sunny weather, I decided I'd skip the other museum and just stroll and people watch the way my Dad taught me. It was a good choice.
In the large square in our neighbourhood there's a fountain. I had never noticed the lovely mosaic that surrounded it before as the water is so distracting. I realized the images were mostly things we had spent the last 5 days seeing. I thought it would be fun to show you the cities images in their version and in mine.
In the large square in our neighbourhood there's a fountain. I had never noticed the lovely mosaic that surrounded it before as the water is so distracting. I realized the images were mostly things we had spent the last 5 days seeing. I thought it would be fun to show you the cities images in their version and in mine.
 |  seagulls |
 A Whirling Dervish |  |
view from the Golden Horn to the Suleymaniye Mosque
the bread sellers
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