The next morning began with this breakfast for me and this for Suzanne which amused me before we found our way towards Topkapi Palace and made our way past the outer walls and through the outer courtyard and into the gate to the ticket office and past various signs we could not read until we got into a courtyard that led to the Imperial Courtyard Hall which was our first dose of remarkable domes fine tilework and remarkable furnishings

but we diverted and went to explore the Harem where the rules were not strictly enforced and the scenery was strictly remarkable including the tile work courtyards facades and descriptions which seemed to go on without end

and was admired until we got to the shell doors which were equally amazing alternating with tiles before we saw the scene of 3 of the Sultan's wives and another set of doors a small fountain more tilework a repeat of the fountain and gold and then a toilet and a bed and more tilework and we made our way to the Imperial Hallway which was more of the remarkable same (gentle reader, forgive me for not describing, just enjoy the remarkable scenes that are unfolding before you .... )

and more rooms amazing doors tilework a view outside and then continual amazement

before we came out to a courtyard that afforded wonderful city views nd buildings such as this which would have been amazing elsewhere became commonplace and our tour continued like this past amazing gardens and tilework

until I stood in the place where the Sultan broke his fast during Rammadan and we headed to the Baghdad Pavillion where after capturing the scene I took some close ups of these amazing pieces of art and then the dome as we headed off to a place where the views were good and the water was expensive and then came back to the dried herbs and after the library took a few more views of the city heading north and the Sultans throne before heading along this path past this cistern to the fountain of Ahmet III. It should be noted that there were a few places within Topkapi where photography was not allowed. One was the scene of the Islamic relics ranging from a bowl used by Abraham to Joseph's turban to Mohammed's sandals to Moses' rod. In this building there was an Imam reading from the Koran in a drone just as has been done for the past 400 years. A second building without photography held the jewels ranging from emeralds as big as my hand to an 89 carat diamond. Indeed, Topkapi Palace was like nothing we've ever seen before or expect to see later.

After getting away from this gentleman and another who wanted to sell us carpets we headed to a lunch which began with olives and bread as Suzanne and I drank our waters and then had this mixture of Turkish appetizers before getting menus from which we could order Turkish coffee and a dessert of rice pudding topped with ice cream.

After lunch we headed to the Blue Mosque where this group were sitting on steps where a sign asked them not to sit and these mosque scenes of the outside were accompanied by signs that led us under a dome like this and through a tunnel until we could join the others who were admiring the amazing mosque

as I posed by the railing that separated many of the visitors (except those who felt they had to run races around the worshipers) from the locals as a group of children came through to admire these sites as did Suzanne and after recording the extent of the mosque and this prayer which seemed to be in every mosque we took some photos of the outside from the benches and walked around the corner towards our hotel where I paused to record the remarkable flowers in our garden.

After a short rest, we decided to head to the ferry station to catch the 1920 boat to Kudakiya as Suzanne and the crowds waited as I caught a few photos of the New Mosque (which was not very new) and then the time came when the boat pulled in

and passengers got off so that we could board and Suzanne could buy tea to drink on the ride as I recorded the scenery

and the wooden floor of the boat as we landed with a mosque in the distance and once the bus cleared away we could see the Otel Bagdat and the timers on the crossing lights and trace down streets like this in the fish market to find our way to Ciya which had been recommended in the New York Times and so Suzanne settled in as I observed the kitchen from which we would choose our salad courses as bread and water were served and our beer came in bowls after which the waiter took this photo of us and I took this photo of the waiter with Suzanne before our main courses arrived and then some thyme tea not to mention the peppers I had on the food. Dessert was a curious mixture followed by a candy and then some tamarind juice. On the way back to the boat dock, we were photographed by this man as he sold us pistachio nuts and almonds. These were scenes, some less clear some clearer recorded on our journey back to Europe from our Asian dinner.