Underground Cistern (Istanbul, Turkey)

Postcard pic of the underground cistern in Istanbul. This is where they used to store water but the way they designed it is amazing. When I went in the cistern had water in it and was full of fish.

Madusa at the bottom of a pillar in the cistern. This is 1 of 2 Madusa's. They think that Christians built this cistern because both Madusa's are in the corner and one is on it's side while the other is upside down.

Me and Eda on our daytrip to Istanbul

One of the biggest malls in the world (Sisle in Istanbul)

Taksim (Istanbul, Turkey)

Crossing the Bosphorus on the ferry on my way to Taksim.

View from my bosses apt in Taksim. That's the Bosphorus.

A peaceful protest in Taksim. This is the area that you always see in the news whenever there are protests in Istanbul.

Police following the protest.

The main street running through Taksim.

The ever-famous meeting spot in Taksim: Burger King.

Hagia Sofia (Istanbul, Turkey)

"Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom), now known as the Ayasofya Museum, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque in 1453, converted into a museum in 1935, in the Turkish city of Istanbul. It is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest buildings of the world and sometimes considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christendom by the Greek Orthodox faithful." -Wilkepedia.org

This points to Mecca.

Eda, Me and Eda's friend (forgot her name--Turkish name's are so difficult) on the 2nd floor of Hagia Sofia.

Apparently if you do a full circle with your finger tips touching the rim of the circle, your wish will come true. This is inside Hagia Sofia still.

Blue Mosque (Istanbul)

Blue Mosque to the left. Hagia Sofia to the right.

Entering the "courtyard" of the Blue Mosque.

You must take your shoes off before entering a mosque.