Watch the video ???? used in the film Mona Lisa Smile https://youtu.be/NlP33fQn37Q
A city of 20 million people, Istanbul is a mindboggling city full of culture, history and a beehive of activity, organized chaos if you will.

Constantinople, was the centre of the Byzantine Empire which lasted over a thousand years, later it became Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire for almost 500 years. The city is a mixture of Europe and Asia, a unique urban composition. A stroll around Sultanahmet, inside the city walls, among mosques, museums and the Great Bazaar is a trip through both history and daily life.
One of our guides for the entire trip is a local Turk named Yasur, he guided us around the city on foot. We took in the Topkapi Palace, built from the year 1453 by Mehmet 1, and Sultans resided there for over 400 years.

Also we toured the Blue Mosque,

the  giant underground Basilica Cistern

All this Sultan history makes me think of a song…https://youtu.be/h0ffIJ7ZO4U

and the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest bazaar boasting 61 covered streets. If you can’t find what you are looking for here, it doesn’t exist!

Lunch at a restaurant in the Bazaar

And Modern Istanbul is on the other side of the Galata Bridge in Beyoğlu. The city is at its busiest from the Karaköy ferry terminal, through the always happening and youthful Cihangir, along the main tourist shopping İstiklal street and all the way to the famous Taksim square.

Istanbul’s Asian side has avoided much of the international tourism and have retained a more humdrum character. Moda district is brimming with cafes and bars frequented by local hipsters, while a bit more traditional Üsküdar caters to visiting families.

Waterways play a central role in the life of the city and boat traffic on the Bosporus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara is running like clockwork. Along the banks you can find small cafes where you can enjoy a glass of tea and magnificent views over the city.

We took an early evening cruise on the Bosphorus Straits, where on one side is Asia and the other side is Europe, so Turkey exists on 2 continents!

Beer of choice in Turkey is EFES, a pilsener with 5.0% abv

Not enough time to really explore this city, maybe another time…we tour again in the morning, then head out to Gallibolu on the Galipoli peninsula, where we check into our next hotel and get the cycling seriously underway!