Just Cruises Plus

Photo Contest – March 15, 2013

posted by Wayne

March 23, 2013

Contest Photo 3/15/13 - Ortakoy Mosque

Last week, we asked you to name the domed structure shown in the contest photo (on right) and to tell us the city in which it is located. Congratulations to Alan Heller of Baltimore, MD, whose name was randomly selected from those who answered correctly.

The name of the structure is the Ortakoy Mosque (officially, the “Buyuk Majidiye” Mosque). And the city, of course, is Istanbul, a city with a “split personality” in more ways than one. First, it is a city in which the modern and vibrant coexist with a history that goes back over 3000 years. Second, the city resides in both Europe and Asia. It is split by the Bosphorus Straight which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea.

Our visit to Istanbul was both adventurous and amazing. The adventure included a public ferry ride, which zigzaged along the Bosphorus between European and Asian ferry stops. Although we tried to blend in with the locals, our oohs and ahs must have given us away as tourists and a kind local took us under his wing and gave a running commentary of the sites we saw along the river, albeit in Turkish. However, we still appreciated the friendly hospitality and asked for repeat pronunciations of the sites he was naming.

Fishing from the Galata Bridge

Our adventure also included an unsuccessful pickpocket attempt on the Galata bridge (unsuccessful due to Wayne’s quick reaction to the unfamiliar and unwelcome hand in his pocket) and a mild fender-bender that occurred when a Mercedes Benz cut in front of our Taxi. Words between the drivers ensued and, because at that point we were a 5-minute walk from our destination, we quickly paid the driver and continued on our way.

While in Istanbul we also visited the amazing historical sites located in the Sultanahmet section of the city. These included the Topkapi Palace (the sultan and his his harem lived here), the Hagia Sophia (at one time an Eastern Orthodox church, later a mosque and now a museum), the extraordinary and multi-minareted Sultan Ahmed Mosque, (commonly known as the “Blue” mosque due to the blue cast of the intricate tilework on the inside of the mosque). Our nostrils were delightfully stimulated on our walk through the Egyptian Spice Market. The Grand Bazaar is a sight to behold but is a bit on the touristy side (practice your negotiating skills). We ended our stay in Istanbul with dinner and a local street fair in Ortakoy, a neighborhood located on the European bank of the Bosphorus.

If you are cruising to or from Istanbul, consider extending your stay for a few extra days to experince this wonderful city. See below for a sampling of photos taken on our trip!