Merhaba (Hello) from Istanbul. I am traveling with my brother, Edward. We arrived in Istanbul at about 4:00 p.m. Istanbul straddles two continents, Europe and Asia. We are staying on the European side. The Bosporus Strait separates the continents and runs from the Sea of Marmara in the south up to the Black Sea.
On the way from the airport…
… we passed through the Aqueduct of Valens, a Roman aqueduct system built in the late 4th century AD, to supply Constantinople – the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
After dropping our bags at the hotel, we walked along busy Istiklal Street to Taksim Square.
In Taksim Square the Republic Monument commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The 36-foot-tall monument portrays the founders of the Turkish Republic including Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It has two sides. The side facing north depicts Atatürk in military uniform while the side facing south towards Istiklal Avenue shows him and his comrades dressed in modern Western clothing, symbolizing his role as a statesman. Istiklal is the Turkish word for independence.
Near our hotel we looked up at Galata Tower built in 1348 by the Genoese as a watchtower at the highest point of the mostly demolished Walls of Galata. I intend to climb it.
Here is a view of the Bosporus from our restaurant at the top of a Novotel Hotel.
Galata Bridge stretches across the Golden Horn.
Boats continue to ply the Golden Horn waterway after dark.
The House Hotel in Karakoy in the Beyoğlu district is a short walk to the bridge across the Golden Horn. It is an old bank building. We were able to tour the vault in the basement.
Ha! iyi geceler (good night).
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