Istanbul 2

Last full day in-country.  Jackie and I were looking forward to this last day, if for no other reason than a boat ride on the Bosphorus.  Rather than attempt to explain the Bosphorus, other than in pictures and to state it divides the two portions of Istanbul, and Turkey from each other as it divides Europe from Asia.  See

The Bosphorus is that stretch of water seen above/beside Istanbul, going in a north east direction

On the Road Back to Istanbul

Perhaps because we had been on this trip so long, fatigue was starting to set in - this seemed like the longest bus ride of all.  Of course it wasn't.   However, the road its self was something to behold.   Very modern, wide and well kept.  But it held some surprises.

At one point we went through the longest tunnel in Asia.

                 Then down from the plateau through a valley which is actual a fault; a very active earthquake region.  Through this area the highway is not built directly on the ground, it is supported by earthquake resistant supports - much like rollers.

And we approach Istanbul.  As you see the bridge between the two parts of Istanbul,  is at least six lanes wide, and crowded.   The picture was taken from Asia; across the bridge is Europe.

From the bridge, one can see (not clearly I'm afraid)

the Bosphorus, with Europe on the left and Asia to the right

We were pressed for time for what I felt was the first time on the trip.   Of course there was the constant, "Come along my little peas a pod" prodding by Hakan, but this time we were actually rushing to meet the boat for a ride and to get folks back for other activities.

One of the things I wanted to do was to go back the the Egyptian or Spice Bazaar.  As you can see the setting was totally different from our first visit.  This was a weekend, good weather and a great afternoon for a walk, so it seemed everyone was out.

The sidewalks were crowed, and the entrance to the Spice Bazaar was almost impossible to get in.

Some were happy to site and watch.

And Now the Bosphorus Boat Ride 

Looking back I really don't remember how long the Bosphorus ride was - a couple hours I would guess.  There was so much to see and I took far too many pictures.  So for the sake of simplicity, and to not waste your time, I've organized the pictures from the boat ride into groups, without consideration for the order in which they were taken.  You may be interested in one group or another, or none of them.  

The groupings are:

An Overview

Boats

Fishing 

Restaurants, Parks, River views

Mosques

Palaces

Old Constantinople

Riverside Homes 

Overview of the Bosphorus Boat Trip

We left from a very crowded area devoted to boat rides for tourists - and they were everywhere - packed in along the shore, docks and waiting areas.  Fortunately we were guided through the crowd to a boat of our own.

I tried to get a picture to show how blue the water was, but as you see, I didn't get close the the actual color - a beautiful azure blue.

We sailed past a fountain which may have seen better days, and under a drawbridge. 

As you see, the drawbridge didn't open for us, and it appears it should have for some other boats which left souvenir pant swaths.  

We cleared the bridge by about a foot - wonder how many boats didn't?  I see blues, reds, whites and greens.......

But our Captain kept us safe and sound.

Does look relaxed, doesn't he?  

Hakan provided a steady commentary.

We passed a number of combination buoys, radar stations.  The entire Bosphorus is lined with these and all shipping is seen on the radar.  I never saw commercial shipping in the Bosphorus, and it is controlled by radar guided control stations, so they must use the Bosphorus for shipping at night.  One could see a large number of ships lined up awaiting their turn.  

Ahead the picture I really wanted to turn out perfectly - one of the two bridges over the Bosphorus, with Europe on the left and Asia on the right.  (If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, etc. etc.) 

                               Europe                                                                        Asia

As you'll see by the sections that follow, the boat ride was long and very picturesque. 

When it was over we saw our last view of the Blue Mosque.

BOATS

Of course if there's water, there's boats. Even though my little Carolina Skiff isn't that big a deal, ownership compels me to look at almost every boat I see. and there were plenty.

Ferries, much like we took to Troy

                            Small boats                                                              Tugs

                                                  Cruise Ships                                                     

Water Taxis

These guys have got to be out of their minds!

A couple million dollar plus yachts

FISHING

There seemed to be a lot of fishing going on, mostly from the shore line.  However there were a few hardy souls out in their tiny, tiny boats

Believe it or not his catch is smaller than his hand

And - as I said before - absolute nuts!

       From around the buoy and a point where the

        Bosphorus turns a corner - see the current?

Anywhere one can stand - one can fish

RESTAURANTS, PARKS, SHORE-SIDE RECREATION 

This is a bridge with shops and restaurants lining both levels 

Great stops to eat, watch and catch some sun 

Perhaps the most unusual of all, a restaurant out in the Bosphorus, surrounded by water and accessible only by boat.

MOSQUES

Mosques were everywhere we went and river-side was not exception.  However, some were as ornate (from the outside) as any we saw, and a couple were exceptionally unique.

Of course, we start with the Blue Mosque, overlooking the Bosphorus as well as the city.

And then we go to the large number along rover-side

And then - Two of the most unusual Mosques I saw the entire trip

Constantinople, Rumelihisarı 

Referred to as the Europe Castle to distinguish it from the Asia Castle across the Bosphorus, Rumelihisarı dominates the narrowest point in the Bosphorus Strait.

Mehmet II vowed to capture Constantinople and raise his name to the heights reached by Alexander the Great.  

The sultan possessed what was arguably the finest fighting force in the world, and he was opposed only by the shadow of an empire. Still, he would take no chances. He would assemble the full military power of his vast domain and apply it in one small area – Constantinople.

In the spring of 1452, Mehmet sent 1,000 masons to the narrowest part of the Bosphorus, five miles north of Galata, to begin construction of a fortress. Constantine XI immediately recognized the threat. A Turkish fort on the Bosphorus, the strait running from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea above, could prevent supplies from reaching Constantinople.

Unable to challenge the Turks militarily, Constantine XI sent envoys to the sultan to “tell” him that the building of the fort was unacceptable. Mehmet dismissed them with a warning, “Mark this also, I shall have every ambassador impaled who dares henceforth come to me with such a message!”

By the end of August the fort had been completed. The Turks named it Boghasi-Kesen, or “cutter of the straits.”

                        The European side                                            The Asian side 

PALACES

The Bosphorus is lined with all type of buildings.  The beauty of the sites along the shore was not lost on the rulers.  Consequently they built enormous, elaborate palaces along the banks.  I was taking pictures and listening as well as I could to Hakan, but took not note.  Except for one memory of one palace, I'm afraid all I can tell you is that they were palaces. 

This palace, after being built at great cost, was never occupied or used

Strangely, one palace has armed guard -

                                                                         I wonder if is is being used as an officer's club

HOMES 

Never lost on the well to do, river-side residences give you a status equal to the view.  Those homes that follow run the gamut from need multi-million dollar homes, to run-down, perhaps abandoned residences, to old abandoned factories. 

Some were just breathtaking.  Some had that "palace" look.  Some looked as if they belonged in the Adirondacks  

And then there are the deserted or abandoned 

And only a very few old abandoned factories or warehouses

And Thus Ends the Bosphorus Cruise.  Terrific - I'm very pleased we took it!