ISTANBUL

The Blue Mosque is easily the most picturesque site with its 6 minarets (only the great mosque in Mecca also has 6), built to be bigger than the Hagia Sophia and was completed in 1616. It is called the Blue Mosque because of the beautiful blue tiles in the interior;) We really liked the underground Cistern that was built by the Romans in the 500's to store water brought by the aquaducts to the city... it is supported by 336 pillars. It reminded us of Diocletian's palace in Split but was much bigger;) We enjoyed the food, the Grand Bazaar (since 1461 as a covered +4000 shopping mall:) and Spice Market, seeing the original train station for the Orient Express train, riding the bus across the Golden Horn inlet that separated the European side from the Asian side of Istanbul and walking the newer area of the city, watching a political rally and getting far away from the riot police in the area, and finding new restaurants and areas to walk in.... all 15 minutes from our hotel:) The crowds could get overwhelming but what an interesting, unique place to visit;)