Istanbul, Turkey (day 7)

Day 7 - January 13, 2023

Not a super eventful day, but I visited a few more sites that were on my list to take a look at. Galata Tower was the first stop. Galata Tower is one of the few places where you can actually get a proper view of the city. The tower opens at 8:30 which also happens to the same time as sunrise. However, it was a bit of a rainy morning and quite foggy, so there was no sun to be seen. There were less people around because of the rain and the earlier time of day so I won't complain there :)

Back in the time of the Byzantine Empire, the area of Galata was surrounded by walls and the tower was the high point of the wall. Construction of the tower was completed in 1348 AD. The walls of Galata were taken down in 1453 with the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. The tower was kept standing and used as a prison and then later used as a fire lookout. 

Next stop was the Aqueduct of Valens. Completed in 373 AD, this was one of the many different water sources for the city of Constantinople. 

Wandered back towards the hotel making a few more stops along the way.

Hagia Sophia 8:20 am

Yeni Cami Mosque

Yeni Cami Mosque

Yeni Cami Mosque

Slopes down from Galata Tower

Şehzade Mosque

Şehzade Mosque

Şehzade Mosque

Şehzade Mosque

Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque

Beyazit Mosque

Beyazit Mosque

Beyazit Mosque

İstanbul Üniversitesi Tarihi Beyazıt Kapısı

İstanbul Üniversitesi Tarihi Beyazıt Kapısı (Istanbul University Beyazit Campus)

Tonight's dinner was Karışık Kebap (mixed kebab). It included: chicken wings, lamb bites, beef, and puff bread (puf ekmek), and pita bread which had two different toppings. Turgut Kebab Restaurant is my go to place. Been there three times now. Staff is very friendly and it is located about a minute from my hotel. Not to mention that their food is really good too :)

The restaurants here always finish off your meal with a cup of tea and a square of baklava, on the house. 

That about wraps up my time here in Istanbul. Flight leaves around 10:30pm tomorrow night for Astana, Kazakhstan. Just one last place I'd like to visit yet and I'd say I've been able to see the majority of the places I had hoped to see.