Istanbul Travel Sketch -2- Touristic

There are lots of things that I would like to write about my experiences in Istanbul...

This time, let me write about the touristic part of it, because I would love to share the photos with you!

On 7th/Oct, my adventure in the exotic city has just started.
Tram is one of the main method of transport in Istanbul. It runs on the road like this!

Topkapı Sarayı (the most famous palace in Istanbul) was the first destination.
On the way there.

Everywhere is photogenic!

Inside of the palace.
Very interesting "Harem".

This is the apartment for eunuchs.
Right here... I was absorbed into the mystery world...
Why did the emperors in various countries in the past make "Harem" like this?
Why was "eunuch system" made for men to work for the emperors?
The same system existed in China, Japan (though there was not eunuch system in Japan) and some other countries.
Is this by accident? Or can it be said that it is universal rule?
Nevertheless it must have been most difficult to learn about the system of foreign countries in that past.
I wanted to learn more about Harem and the emperors lives.

Hope you imagine how beautiful was it .... It was too beautiful to picture, actually!

This is Sultan's private bathrooms.

Hmmmm now I understood how the term, "breathtakingly" meant!

Enjoyed details too.

Wooow!!! Galata tower is seen!! Isn't it very Istanbul!?

Below is Sultan's dinning.
Do you recognize that all tiles are painted with fruits? Isn't it cute?

Finished Harem. Went to outside. One more thing to add about Harem, it cannot be seen from outside even its garden too.

Before enjoyed the spectacular view of  the Bosporus, I enjoyed lots of  treasures that photo was not allowed.
It was indeed great including the treasure knives which were very beautiful, gorgeous dresses of Sultans (I was amazed to see them! Fun to see as well), and the huge diamond!!
It was really huge and beaming!
I've never seen such strong beam from the diamond before!  My eyes actually was hurt by the reflection from the diamond.  Really great to see that! Girls are always loving diamonds.

Then, I moved to the restaurant inside of the palace which has a great view of the Bosporus!
How I can tell you my excitement of that moment... I came from Asia and it is just across the Bosporus... and I was standing on the edge of Europe! Isn't is cool?
The Bosporus bridge was also in the view!
I wanted the sunshine hopefully.... it should have been more gorgeous if I could see the reflection of the sun on the Bosporus sea. I actually wanted to have lunch at exact that table in the below photo!
Unfortunately, I couldn't do that due to rain....
But! We always can use our imaginations!  I imagined how it would be beautiful if it didn't rain. :)
(It still WAS beautiful and I was totally blown away!)

What I ate there... meat stuffed green peppers with Chai. :)

Again, this is Asian side, viewed from Europe side.

Another garden in the palace.

New city across Golden Horn bay.

Went out from the palace, and off to Blue Mosque.

Wooaaaa costumes of belly-dance!

Artistic Blue Mosque!

Ayasofya.

Inside of Blue Mosque. The blue sky was seen for just a few minutes.

It was so hard to picture how beautiful was inside of Blue Mosque!
Indeed breathtaking. Softly shining as blue.

Inside of Ayasofya.

This is the wet pole. I was making a wish right there... I heard that women would be able to become pregnant if we could touch the water in it. Woow, wooow....I think... I could touch the water in it... I hope so... :)

Wall paintings inside of Ayasofya.

Went out from Ayasofya.... oh what a complex construction is it.

The cemetery of Sultans. I made a soundless prayer there...

Lunch was "Manti", traditional Turkish menu. I had decided to have it:)  It is sort of Turkish Raviolis with yogurt sauce. With Rake which is Turkish spirit just like.... Pastis in France, Uzo in Greece.
Rake is originally transparent like water and getting white with water.

Then, headed to the basement palace!

OMG.... it was so beautiful and mysterious.

Then, I finished seeing around old city and moved to new city.
On the way going to new city, I walked on Galata bridge on Golden Horn bay.
Such a fun walk while seeing the view of old city and new city.

Istanbul looked like the nice place for kitties. I loved the pose of the left one :)

I didn't know that new city is also exotic! I'd thought that new city is just new. But it was not.
Fun to walk around.

This is the French street. :)

I had chai and white wine at the lovely cafe.  And some new friends were very nice to me.
Thanks Ecer and his brother to help me at that time. It was very kind of you.

On the way to Galata tower, I stepped into a Lokatan, a local restaurant.
An eggplant, mincemeat and a green pepper...!
Oh my, those are all my favorite! This is a dream combination of my fav foods! :))

Charming allies

Finally got to Galata tower.

From top of Galata tower.  Wooow view.
HOWEVER.... It rained unbelievably heavily!
My jeans totally got wet and my umbrella broke.
But again.... I could use imagination.... :))

Various directions from the top! The Bosporus, Golden Horn bay, old city, new city, Asian side....

Waiting for sunset. :) My original plan was to see the beautiful sunset from there.
However alas... hmmmm my plan was not completed under such bad weather. 
Again, I was forced to use "imagination"....

In other name, the steep city, Istanbul!

There was a fish market by Golden Horn bay.

I took the shortest metro in the world!
Again what a steep!

Arrived at Taksim place which is the center of new city.
What a traffic!

Then,  voila! I got to the place seeing belly-dance! huhu!

I've heard that Asena is the most famous belly-dancer. Hmmmm! Her dance was very emotional too!

On the way back to the hotel in old city, historical district.
View from Galata bridge never bores me!

Looking back the Bosporus bridge.

Night view of Topkapu palace.

Mmm! I love this photo!

Mmmmm!!! I looove this photo! He was selling mackerel sandwiches by Galata bridge.

THIS IS IT!! Roasted mackerels are my favorite. Simply with salt and lemon. No bones with them!
This is very similar to that of Japan. I loved it.

Above was all about 7th/Oct!  from 9:00 AM to midnight....  

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And then, below was on 8th, just before the concert.
I went to another palace in new city, called Dolmabache palace.

Photo was not allowed inside of the palace. It was such a gorgeous palace with lots of HUGE and BEAUTIFUL chandeliers. Some of them were made by Bacarat which most interested me. It was indeed an overwrought palace inside and out. 
There was a Harem too.
Again, I got into the mystery world and got the same questions as that I thought at Topkapu palace.
Plus, I thought that.... "Hmmmm isn't it only a 'cute stuff' that some guys like to enjoy VIP rooms with ladies, compared with that Sultans actually did in this overwrought banquet rooms....:)"
And.... I thought a funny thing too. I've heard that Sultan's mother used to be the most important woman in the Harem who had to control everyone and everything. To hear that, I said in my mind that "Don't be jealous of your hubby's mom! Mother-in low is always the strongest in all through the ages"  Isn't it correct? :))

There are some guards with riffles even today.

After this, I went back to the hotel and prepared for Chris Botti's concert!

(Preparation took for almost 3 hours haha!!!)

Istanbul travel sketch continues.

Next is about the treasure meeting with friends!

Thanks for sharing my experiences in Istanbul!