September 18, 2005: Fascinating city - the gateway between the east and west and the Islamic and Christian worlds. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey (capital: Ankara) and situated in the shores of Bosphorus. It is bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the east by Marmara Sea. 96.5% is in Asia (Anatolia or Asia Minor) and 3.5% is in Europe. The modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Moustafa Kemal Ataturk. Its population is 62 million - 98% Muslims, 1.5% Christians and Jews.
Our tour bus arrived before 6 pm at the Port of Piraeus in Athens. There we saw on the dock the much in the news cruiseline Brilliance of the Seas where a guy (George Allen Smith) from the United States who's just newly married and on his honeymoon just mysteriously disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea last July 5, 2005. I said a little prayer for him as we cruised along the Mediterranean Sea. May God bless him and his family wherever he may be. His death is really and truly a mystery. We arrived the next day at 6 pm after an overnight Hellenic cruise. We enjoyed the short voyage very much.
I arrived in Istanbul on a Saturday afternoon, with the Opa World Travelers from Athens.
Topkapi Palace
The centre of imperial administration and residence of the sultans erected by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the conqueror during 1462-1478. It was ruled by the Ottoman Dynasty until the beginning of 19th Century and converted into museum on April 3, 1924. The relics, skull and right arm of St. John the Baptist, are on display at the Topkapi Palace.
We crossed the Bosporus Bridge to see the other side of Istanbul. The Bosporus Strait is a 19 mile waterway - 700 meter wide at its narrowest point. Navigating its nine sharp bends is a tanker captain's nightmare.
Internet Publication:
6/2/10 lib's labyrinth blogspot
10/2005 ALT MSN Group
Internet Publication:
6/2/10 lib's labyrinth blogspot
10/2005 ALT MSN Group
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