Istanbul not Constantinople

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night.

Friday morning we were at the Antalya Airport bright and early....and wearing matching outfits!!! Purely by accident but funny just the same!

We were headed for Istanbul(and not Constantinople! Couldn't help but think of that old song.) We only had a few hours there but got to see some amazing sights of the city, starting with a view of the impressive skyline of this city that is in both Europe and Asia.

It is on the Black Sea which somehow touched a heart string of mine since my grandmother was born on the Black Sea and my mother grew up close to it for her early years.

This was our first view of the famous Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum...built in 532 and the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1000 years.

The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul.

It really was a most amazing structure....and pictures really don't even begin to show how magnificent it was.

There was so much more to see, but I just wanted to give you a glimpse of a most incredible day! We're home now and life continues on...but I will cherish the memories!