Istanbul-


The city makes you feel like you are in one of those cities which would have had Sinbad and Aladdin.
I have to admit I am not very interested in travelling to historical places. But the moment I saw the mosques,minarets,tombs,mosaics,rugs,stained lamps…I was glad I had decided to stop by in Istanbul.
The history all around you just takes your breath away.
And if not that, then the hookah café certainly will :)

The city bustles with life on Fridays and that’s when I was there.
Checked out all the historical places on the first day by foot as the major sites are all located around Sultanhamet Square, where my hotel was.
Shopping in Istanbul was another exhilarating experience altogether. I bought hookahs and quite a few knick knacks while walking through the bazaars all day.
The rugs are awesome and most of the café’s and restaurants are covered with them. Not just the flooring but the walls also. In the evening I went out for some Turkish dinner and caught some lively Turkish dances being performed round the corner. There is belly dancing in turkey too but the style is a bit different from the Egyptian belly dancing. I couldn’t make out any difference though. The girls were as pretty and graceful but that’s what the guide told me.
Next day I went for a long 4 hour cruise on the Bosphorous Sea, which connects the Mediterranean to the Black Sea via the Aegean Sea. The palaces on either side of the sea were beautiful. The bosphorous sea divides the asian and the European side of Istanbul.I checked out both and both were as amazing.
The best buy in Istanbul was definitely my black leather jacket…(eventually you just have to give in).And the craftsmen actually made my jacket in front of me. right from cutting,stiching,pasting and ironing. It took them just about 2 hours lo and behold. my jacket was done.
I spent a lot of time just walking around and enjoying the place. There were so many intriguing tiny details everywhere in the city that it’s somewhat overwhelming, but in a grand way.

Pics at http://photos.yahoo.com/onlyiampreeti
Folder - Turkey