Pics of our visit to Anthony in Intanbul, May-June 2014
Flying over Asia Minor from the South East before crossing the Bosphorus, while approaching the airport in Istanbul.
Note the traffic on the expressway.
High rises on the southern side of the Bosphorus
New motorways under construction.
At this point we have just crossed the Bosphorus and would be directly over Anthony's house.
Looking down on the Bosphorus Bridge
The dean's house at Robert College
Anthony taking us on a guided tour of the college.
Front view of the Gould Hall at Robert College
The new section.
This was the original building on the farm when Mr Robert bought the property to build the college.
The sports oval.
Looking South from the end of the sports oval.
The Bosporus with the western bridge to the right.
This is the easterly bridge.
This part of Robert college used to be a girl's school. The security fence is still in use.
Gould Hall again.
Mr. Robert.
The college library.
The walk in front of the various buildings.
Reinforcement on the window frames as earthquake protection.
This evacuation plan shows the layout of the college.
Boats moored on the shore of the Bosporus.
Another cruise ship.
Australian Bottlebrush in Anthony's garden.
The eastern approach to the airport is directly overhead.
We celebrated our 39th Wedding anniversary with Anthony.
The next day we took a bus down town to explore the old city of Istanbul/Constantinople.
We started out with visiting the Topkapi Palace.
This is a poster of the Ayasofya Church/Mosque which is now a museum, with the palace in the background.
The entrance to the palace.
The gate of Felicity
The throne room.
The treasury building.
Balcony adjoining the treasury with view over the harbour.
Looking down from the balcony with the harbour and part of the old walls of Constantinople.
Part of the old walls
The Baghdad pavilion
The circumcision room.
Inside the harem.
Looking towards the Blue Mosque
The Obelisk of Theodosius is the ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III,
re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople by the Roman Emporor Theodosius I, in the 4th century AD.
The covered bazaar in Istanbul.
View looking across to the Galata Tower
The obelisk again.
Entering the Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Mosque
Inside the Blue Mosque
Gardens
Looking back on the Blue Mosque
Ayasofya, (Hagia Sophia) now a museum.
Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums and most prominent monuments in the world in terms of art and the history of architecture. It has also been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century. The current Hagia Sophia is the third construction, done in a different architectural style, even though it occupies the same location as the previous two. The original building was constructed by the most important architects of the period (527-565), Anthemios (Tralles) and Isidoros (Miletus), under the order of Emperor Justinianos. It is mentioned in the resources that during its construction period, the two prominent architects each had 100 architects working under them, who in turn had 100 workers each working under them.¨
It was used as a church for 916 years, but following the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque.
It was then used as a mosque for 483 years. Under the order of Atatürk and the decision of the Council of Ministers, it was converted to a museum in 1935.
Traces of the Christian origin.
Looking up into the dome.
Beautifil mozaics.
The round signs with arabic symbols are from the time as a mosque.
View from the Ayasofya looking across to the Blue Mosque.
Detail of the mozaic in the semi dome above the altar.
Copies of some of the moziacs on display.
This cistern is remarkable!
It was lost for a good time and rediscovered when people were found to be drawing water from holes in the ground.
Medusa head built under one of the columns.
Süleymaniye Mosque or Pink Mosque
The tomb of the Sultan Suleyman
Who needs a Porsche in the is traffic?
Looking bach to the Suleyman Mosque
View of the harbour with many ferries.
Looking back to the palace.
Note the salesman in a dangerous position.
Back beside the Bosporus, walking to dinner with Anthony.
This is a local area just behind the tourist venues.
A local restaurant.
On the walk home.
The next day on the way to the airport.
Looking down on a football arena from our aircraft.