Istanbul spans two continents. The division is the Bosphorus Strait a body of water that connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea. Like many visitors, we took a Bosphorus Cruise on this division. Three bridges span the strait connecting the European side of Turkey with the Asian side of Turkey. The shores on both sides have been important since Byzantine times.
On the south side they built monasteries. Later, during the Ottoman reign, those monasteries were converted into hospitals and palaces or mansions. All along the sides during the last couple hundred years of the Ottomans many mansions were built for the wealthy.
Bosphorus Cruise
One of the things to do in Istanbul is to experience the Bosphorus Strait on a cruise. We did this with our guide. It was a snowy morning with flurries coming and going, but the cruise wasn’t a wash. We could still see and enjoy the scenery and sights.
We passed the Dolmabahce Palace, the Ottoman sultan’s palace from the mid-1800s, which I’ve added to my to-see list for a future Istanbul adventure. We also went by a castle, the grand vazir’s palace, and many other mansions. On the south side, the mansions have a distinct style and are made of wood. They are made for boats to dock from the strait as that was the main way for people to commute between the two sides before the bridges were built.
A Note on Terrorism
We also passed the Reina nightclub. This party spot was site of a recent terror attack and the one of the reasons people think it is too dangerous to visit Turkey. Let me say again, terrorism can happen anywhere. It should not be an excuse to abandon or exclude places from your life. I felt safe during my whole trip in Turkey. The people are friendly and very hospitable. Turkey is amazing and needs to be visited!
Their tourism has gone down considerably in the last year. When tourists aren’t visiting it hurts everyone: the guides, the drivers, the workers at historical sites, restaurants, and shops, artisans, and all of their families. This means the terrorists win. That is why they are called terrorists. They want people to be scared.
The Snow Cleared Up
Our Bosphorus cruise ended just as the snow was clearing up. Just before we ended, we saw Maiden’s Tower in the mouth of Marmara. You may remember it from James Bond: The World is not Enough. The snow was also clearing up at the time, so we could get a better view of the Sultanahmet with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
