Day 9: Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Grand Bazaar
The Blue Mosque (left) and Hagia Sophia (right) are located close to each other.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is currently a mix of a mosque and a museum. The museum part is the upper gallery where we were. The rest is an active mosque.
We were surprised to see that Christian imagery still existed in the museum area.
The Blue Mosque is a very short walk from Hagia Sophia. It is a mosque but we were allowed inside on the floor.
The Blue Mosque is in much better condition than Hagia Sophia. Our tour guide told us before we entered that we'd know right away why it is called the Blue Mosque when we got inside. He pointed out all the blue colors to us. Not really seeing it.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople (now Sultanahmet Square).
The minaret to the left is part of the Blue Mosque.
This obelisk, stolen from Egypt, was at the center of the Hippodrome. Rome also had many Egyptian obelisks.
Grand Bazaar
