Constantinople

For Labor Day weekend this year Ryan and I made a trip to Istanbul. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, with a population of 14.1 million and is the fifth-largest city in the world by population within city limits. Uniquely, Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus waterway. The commercial and historical centers lie in Europe, while a third of its population lives in Asia. 

A View of Istanbul

For nearly sixteen centuries following its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, Istanbul served as the capital of four empires (Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman). Interesting enough, the city was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold. Although the Republic of Turkey established its capital in Ankara, palaces and imperial mosques still line the hills as visible reminders of the city’s previous central role. We arrived on Friday evening and meandered through the narrow streets to find our hotel. Our first Turkish experience was the food. We had beef and lamb skewers and finished the evening with apple Turkish tea. Everything we tasted at this restaurant was delicious. 

Out Meal of Lamb and Beef Skewers

Turkish Tea and Baklava

 On Saturday we spent the morning exploring the city and purchasing tickets for the hop on hop off bus. We decided to ride the bus around its full route so we could hear the history of the city. The bus took us across the Bosphorus Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning the Bosphorus strait connecting Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus Bridge was the fourth longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1973. At present, it is the 22^nd longest suspension bridge span in the world. We rode across the bridge from the European side of the city to the Asian side where we decided to take a break from our bus ride and explore. 

Sign on Bosphorus Bridge

Bosphorus Bridge

  

We made our way to Beylerbeyi Sarayı, a summer palace overlooking the Bosphorus form its Asian shore. The Imperial Ottoman summer residence was built in the 1860’s and was often used as a guesthouse for visiting heads of state. The palace looks the most beautiful from the Bosphorus, where its two bathing pavilions can be seen. The reception hall has a pool and a fountain because running water was popular in Ottoman houses for its pleasant sound and cooling effect in the heat. Egyptian straw matting was used on the floor as a form of insulation. Unfortunately, they would not let us take photos inside the house. After touring the house we hopped back on the bus and headed back over to the European side of Istanbul.

Beylerbeyi Sarayı From the Bosphorus

Our next stop was the Grand Bazaar (1455). The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 60 covered streets and over 5,000 shops. The bazaar is well know for its jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices, and antique shops. The bazaar has been an important trading center since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two domed buildings, the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461. 

Spices on Display at the Grand Bazaar

Enjoying Istanbul

 Sunday morning we hopped back on the bus and headed to the neighborhood of Galata. The medieval stronghold of Galata was a colony of the Republic of Genoa between 1273 and 1453. After having lunch at the Hard Rock Café we headed to the famous Galata Tower. The tower was built by the Genoese in 1348 at the northernmost and highest point of the stronghold. The medieval stone tower is one of Istanbul’s most striking landmarks. Galata Tower is a nine-story, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and offers panoramic views of the city. 

Galata Tower

Galata Tower

 

The Bosphorus from Galata Tower

Enjoying Galata Tower

After leaving Galata tower we jumped on a Bosphorus river cruise.  The boat took us along both the Asian and European shores. The Bosphorus was an important ancient trade route connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The picture from the water gave us a different perspective of the city while taking in views of stately homes, palaces, and medieval fortresses along the route. 

Mosque Viewed from the Bosphorus

Rumelian Fortress from the Bosphorus

 

We got up early Monday morning and headed to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque. Sultan Ahmed Mosque was nicknamed the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles. The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue paint and more than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs. The mosque was built from 1609 to 1616 and is still used a practicing mosque today. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered the last great mosque of the classical period. 

Blue Mosque

Large Dome of Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s most iconic structures and represents the peak of Byzantine architecture. A dome 102 feet in diameter tops the building. Hagia Sophia stood as the world’s largest cathedral for more than a thousand years, before being converted into a mosque. Today the building is a museum. We did not take the time to tour the museum only to marvel at its architecture. 

Hagia Sophia

 Following our visit to the Blue Mosque we headed to the Basilica Cistern. The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. Before being converted into a cistern, a great Basilica stood in its place, built between the 3^rd and 4^th centuries during the early Roman Age. The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings in the surrounding area. The cathedral-sized cistern is an underground chamber approximately 453 feet by 212 feet and is capable of holding 100,000 tons of water. A forest of 336 marble columns support the ceiling, each 30 feet high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns. In the northwest corner of the cistern are the bases of two columns carved with the facade of Medusa. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. 

Basilica Cistern

Medusa Head of Basilica Cistern

 Our last stop before packing up and leaving Istanbul was the Topkapı Palace. The large palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years of their 624-year reign. The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. Construction began in 1459 and at its peak the palace was home for as many as 4,000 people. Topkapı contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. After the 17^th century, the palace gradually lost its importance as the sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosphorus.  In 1923 the palace was transformed into a museum dedicated to the imperial era. The palace complex has hundreds of rooms, chambers, and fine examples of Ottoman architecture. The museums contain large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts, as well as a display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry. The palace is an extensive complex rather than a single structure, with an assortment of low buildings constructed around courtyards, interconnected with galleries and passages.

Topkapı Palace

A Pavilion Room at Topkapı Palace

Istanbul from Galata Tower

European Driving Adventure

Ashley came for her second visit during the month of July this year. We were delighted to have her stay with us for over two weeks. During her stay our two main trips were a day trip to Paris and a long weekend road trip. 

Ashley and Ryan in Paris

 Paris

Like Ashley’s last visit to Germany we made a day trip to Paris using Germany’s high-speed train. We were excited to have Ryan join us this time. Since the three of us had already made at least one trip to Paris we decided to see different parts of the city. Our first stop was La Grande Arche de la Défense. This structure is a monument and building in the business district of La Défense. La Défense is known as the futuristic business district of Paris. The monument is a 20^th-century version of the Arc de Triomphe and a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals rather than military victories. The construction of the monument began in 1985 and was completed in 1989. The Arche is gigantic: it is twice the size of the Arc de Triomphe and its archway is large enough to fit the Notre-Dame Cathedral. 

La Grande Arche de la Défense

 Our next stop was Montmartre, a 130-meter high hill in the northern part of Paris. Montmartre is known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Coeur on its summit. In 1870 following the military defeat of France by Prussia a project began to build a church in Paris dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as a sign of penitence, trust, hope, and faith. In June of 1875 the first stone of the basilica was laid. The basilica was finally consecrated in October of 1919. We spent time exploring the basilica and climbing the 300 steps to the top of the dome. The breathtaking view of Paris and the Eiffel tower from the top of the dome was definitely worth the climb. 

A View of the City from Montmartre

The Eiffel Tower from Montmartre

Basilica of the Sacré Coeur

 The final major stop of the day was the Jardin du Luxembourg or Luxembourg Garden. The widow of King Henry IV created the garden in the beginning of 1612 to go along with her new residence at Luxembourg Palace. Today the garden is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the Palace. The park, which covers 23 hectares, is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, and statues. We spent time exploring the garden in search of the small-scale model of the Statue of Liberty. On this beautiful sunny day we also took some time to relax, enjoy the garden, and sample some refreshing ice cream. 

Luxembourg Palace

Statue of Liberty in Luxembourg Garden

 Amsterdam

Over the Fourth of July weekend we set out on a four-day driving excursion.  After leaving Friday morning our first stop was Amsterdam, the capital city and most populous city within the Netherlands. Amsterdam became one of the most important ports during the Dutch Golden Age (17^th century) and was the leading center for finance and diamonds. 

Houses in Amsterdam

 One of the best ways to explore Amsterdam is by way of its 17^th century canals. After finding our hotel we set out to find a guided canal tour. Amsterdam has a rich architectural history. On our canal tour we were amazed by the beautiful views on the canals and bridges, merchant’s houses, 17^th century gables, and the multitude of houseboats. Our tour took us through the Red Light District and along side Mint Tower. Mint Tower is one of the city’s most visible landmarks. The bell tower has a clock on each of its four sides and was originally part of Amsterdam’s fortified city wall. The tower gained its name in the 17^th century when the French occupied parts of the Netherlands forcing the Dutch to move their coin minting operations to this location. 

Amsterdam Canal

Seven Bridges on the Amsterdam Canals

Mint Tower

House Boats on One of the Canals

 

After spending the night in Amsterdam we decided to see more of the city by land. We used the Hop on Hop off bus to take us to the sites we were interested in learning more about. Our first stop was Gassan Diamonds where rough diamonds are transformed into dazzling jewels. Gassan is know for its over 400 years of craftsmanship and tradition. On our tour we were able to watch diamond polishers at work while a guide explained the diamond cutting and shaping process. 

A Small Glimpse of the Multitude of Bikes in Amsterdam

Our next stop was the Heineken experience. Heineken is a historic brewery and corporate visitor center for Heineken beer. The industrial facility was built as the first Heineken brewery in 1867 and remained the primary brewing facility until 1988 when a larger facility was built outside the city. The Heineken experience is comprised of four levels of historical artifacts, product exploration, sampling, horse stable, and interactive exhibits. We had a great time touring the facility and enjoying the interactive exhibit where we were bounced along an assembly line like beer bottles. 

Old Heineken Logo

Heineken brewery

One of the Many Interactive Exhibits at Heineken

 Rotterdam

Exploring a Park in Rotterdam

In the afternoon we left Amsterdam and headed for the city of Rotterdam. Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Beginning as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial center.  Rotterdam is known for its university, cutting-edge architecture, lively cultural life, striking riverside setting, and maritime heritage. Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe and the fourth busiest port in the world. The port was the world’s busiest from 1962 to 2004 when it was surpassed by Shanghai. 

Rotterdam Port

 Rotterdam is also home to the Euromast. The Euromast is a 607-feet tower and the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands. The view from the top gives an amazing view over Rotterdam, the port, and beyond. Above the observation platform is the Euroscope, a rotating lift that provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the city surrounding area. We enjoyed the views of the city while the sun was setting. After leaving the tower we walked through the city taking in the architecture and the people. The city was buzzing with orange jerseys as the Netherlands prepared to play in the world cup. It was an exciting night for the Netherlands, but a sleepless night for us as many were out celebrating in the streets until all hours. 

Euromast Tower

A View of Rotterdam from the Euromast Tower

North Sea

Beach Along the North Sea

 The next morning we were ready to leave the city for a drive along the North Sea coastline. The North Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The North Sea is more than 600 miles long and 260 miles wide. We made a stop at one of the many beaches along the coast. We enjoyed the sand beneath our toes, picking up seashells, and playing in the water. After leaving the beach we continued along the coast enjoying lighthouses and the windmills the Netherlands is famous for. 

Ryan in the North Sea

A Lighthouse Along The North Sea Coast

One of the Windmills we Saw in the Netherlands

Bruges

City Hall in Bruges

 We ended our day when we arrived in the city of Bruges. Bruges is the capital and largest city in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Bruges is a canal-based city and is known as the “Venice of the North” because of its many winding waterways. We spent Sunday evening exploring this beautiful city and enjoying some traditional Flemish food. 

One of the Beautiful Canals in Bruges

On Monday morning we headed to the town square where we began our horse drawn carriage ride with a guide telling us all about the lovely city of Bruges. Many of the medieval buildings in Bruges are notable, including the Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire reaches 401 feet, making it one of the world’s highest brick towers. The sculpture Madonna and Child (1504) can be seen in the transept and is believed to be Michelangelo’s only sculpture to have left Italy within his lifetime. Bruges most famous landmark is its 13^th-centruy belfry, housing a municipal carillon comprised of 48 bells.  After our carriage ride we spent more time exploring the city and the Church of Our Lady. Bruges was the final stop on our driving excursion. 

Carriage Ride in Bruges

Church of Our Lady

Houses in Bruges

Madonna and Child Statue