Last Day in Istanbul

Before leaving Istanbul we toured the palace adjacent to our hotel. Ciragan Palace is much smaller than Dolmabahce Palace and housed the hotel restaurant. The palace was destroyed by fire and restored many times but was renovated in 2007 to resemble more of the original building.

Here's a picture of the crystal staircase. Made me feel that I should be wearing a ballgown. For a while there, I was having a Cinderella moment.



















Our view from our balcony.































More pictures of Istanbul:





























In Ayasofya Camii, a private praying room for the Sultan during prayer times.














Vaulted ceiling on the second floor of Ayasofya Camii:















Men had to wash their feet at the ablution fountains before entering the mosque.















Inside Yerebatan Sarnici


















Ortakoy Mosque by the Bosphorus















..