Day 2 – Istanbul, Turkey

Day 2 – Istanbul, Turkey - Tuesday, November 4
Our Tour -Istanbul Cityscape

Our tour started by taking us along the Old City Walls of the former Consantanipal a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing portions that date from the 4th century.


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Then, we travelled to the famous Spice Bazaar, where its mix of colors and scents enchant your senses as you explore the vendor stalls and navigate through crowds of locals shopping for exotic spices. Historically this was the western end of the ancient "Spice Road".



Jusr about every kind of spice you could think of.


Many, Many Stalls [The cpommon phrase here was " How can we help you spend your money today]


 
In this shop, we got a talk about the various spices sold here, what they are made for various medical condiions.




A short walk from the spice Market was the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, built in 1561. This is one of the city’s hidden treasures, often ignored in favor of the “Blue Mosque” that towers beside it. Inside, you will find exquisitely colored İznik tiles of blue, red, green and purple covering the entrance, the pulpit (minbar) and its columns. This is the most richly tiled mosque in Istanbul; its facade is similarly decorated. 





Intanbul has more Mosques that any place I have ever heard of.  Over 2000 Mosques in Istanbul.  The one below is one of 4 within 1/4 mile of the cruise terminal





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