Istanbul, Turkey, May 2012

My most recent excursion to Istanbul, Turkey is most likely the last of my trips while I am finishing off my last month here in Europe. What an incredible last trip it was! This photo blog will be a little different from the others in that I won't be doing as much narrating but rather letting the pictures speak for themselves. I tried really hard to capture the sights, sounds, and feelings through these pictures and I think they speak more on their own. I hope you all enjoy and can't wait to see all of you once I return back to the states at the end of June!

The Galata Bridge, spanning the Golden Horn, connecting Beyoğlu to Sultanahmet.

Fisherman on the Galata Bridge. You can see the Yeni Cammi (New Mosque) in the background. 

Another picture here looking over the Galata Bridge. You can see the Şehzade Mosque in the background.

The Yeni Camii (New Mosque)

The Grand Bazaar Market in Sultanahmet.

One of the most famous mosques in Istanbul. This is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque more popularly know as the Blue Mosque. 

Inside the courtyard of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

A picture here of myself in front of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

Fish market along the southern coast of Fatih

Spices in the Spice Bazaar in Sultanahmet

Pigeons outside of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) 

Young boy swatting at the pigeons outside of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque)

Yeni Camii (New Mosque)

Underneath the Galata Bridge with the Şehzade Mosque in the background

Fisherman on the Galata Bridge

Streetcar on İstiklal Avenue, the busiest and most densely populated street in all of Istanbul. This picture doesn't do it justice.  

A picture here of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque. Built in 1458, it was the first mosque constructed by the Ottoman Turks following their conquest of Constantinople in 1453.  The mosque rises next to the place where Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Eyüp Sultan), the standard-bearer of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is said to have been buried during the Arab assault on Constantinople in 670. His tomb is greatly venerated by Muslims, attracting many pilgrims. Some of the personal belongings of Muhammad are preserved in the tomb.

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Man cleansing himself outside of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Football field in the hills of Eyüp

Another picture here of the football field in Eyüp

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Inside the Şehzade Mosque. It was the first major commission by the Imperial Architect Mimar Sinan, and was completed in 1548. It is considered by architectural historians as Sinan's first masterpiece of classical Ottoman architecture.

Men washing outside of the Şehzade Mosque

Inside the Şehzade Mosque

Panorama inside the Şehzade Mosque

Once again the Şehzade Mosque

Outside of Topkapi Palace. The Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign.

Our last day in Istanbal, Galatasaray played Fenerbahce for the Turkish football championship. These are Galatasaray fans cheering near Taksim Square only a few blocks away from where our hostel was. 

More Galatasaray fans

Galatasaray fans organizing chants