Where I'd Rather Be Wednesday

This Wednesday I'd rather be in..... Istanbul!! (This city formerly known as Constantinople.)
Istanbul is a captivating Turkish city which has a rich historical past during which it was the epicenter of three great empires, namely the Roman, the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman. The influences of this rich cultural heritage continue to have a bearing on Istanbul until today.

Istanbul is that it is the only city in world that has a foot in two continents. Its old city is situated in Europe, while it’s more modern sections are located within Asia. These two very distinct parts of Istanbul are separated by the strait of Bosphorus. Due to its strategic location, Istanbul also served as an important center of trade through the ages and the city continues to be an important center for finance and culture in Turkey.

I first remember learning about Istanbul in History class...it sounded like an amazing city to me! After doing some research I have decided to list some tops things that I would like to see in Istanbul. Who knows maybe one day I will use this as my travel guide :)

Hagia Sofia

The Church of the Holy Wisdom, known as Hagia Sophia, is a former Byzantine church and former Ottoman mosque in Istanbul. Now a museum, Hagia Sophia is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world. It was built in the fourth century by Constantine the Great. Constantine was the first Christian emperor and the founder of the city of Constantinople, which he called "the New Rome." The Hagia Sophia was one of several great churches he built in important cities throughout his empire. The Hagia Sofia is the first thing I think of when I think of Istanbul.

Blue Mosque

The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Sultanahmet Mosque (better known as the "Blue Mosque") dominate the skyline of Istanbul. In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build an Islamic place of worship to rival the Hagia Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the impressive result. The two great architectural achievements stand next to each other in Istanbul's main square, and it is up to visitors to decide which is more impressive.
The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets, over 1,200 shops, and has between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like. It is famed, many-storied, and glorious. If you are in Turkey, you should certainly see it. The history alone is reason enough, not to mention the unbelievable concentration of touristic goods into one immense covered market. Every shopkeeper speaks three or four languages (at least!) and you can buy every bright trinket that no native Istanbul citizen has used for a hundred years or more.

The Egyptian Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar is a mini Grand Bazaar, but known to be infinitely better. The prices can be more competitive than in the Grand Bazaar, and while many things are the same price, you can also grab some delectable samples of local sweets, meets and cheeses. You can ask the shopkeepers to get a portion of spice from any of the colorful, heaping mounds. There are housewares galore, assorted olives, cheeses, spices, nuts, and excellent freshly ground Turkish coffee.

The Galata Bridge

Stretching over the Golden Horn, the Galata Bridge is one of the most sensory sights in Istanbul. Standing on top of it you can see all of Eminonu from the Yeni Mosque to Topkapi Palace. Mosques dot the horizon, and dozens of minarets jut like daggers from the seven hills (Constantinople, the City on Seven Hills) that Constantine distinguished to emulate the seven hills of Rome. Local fisherman are thick along the bridge's ballustrade, pulling up fish which they sell to Galata Bridge restaurants and other fish vendors in the area. Beneath the Galata Bridge there are restaurants which are renowned for fish. Although You can't beat a view of the Golden Horn with ferries and boats coming and going, fishermen fishing, and tourists being heckled as they walk by the restaurants.

Çamlica Hill

Çamlica Hill overlooks the city and offers you wide vistas and open space to breathe and relax. The 360 degree panoramic view is calming and beautiful at the same time, and one of the highlights of any city break to Istanbul. It is quite an attraction, but can get slightly crowded. This means that while it is very calming and relaxed, it's not always that serene or secluded.
Prince's Islands

Seemingly built around the idea of relaxation, the Prince's Islands are the perfect place to explore as a part of a relaxing few days away from the main city. The islands are in the Sea of Marmara, reachable on a day trip by boat from Istanbul. City breaks can feel crowded and claustrophobic because of the amount of traffic and fumes around in the city, which is another reason to visit the islands; there are no cars, and transport is by horse and cart only. All of the islands have a serene, gentle feel about them, and just taking a stroll about one of them has an incredibly calming effect. They are well worth a visit on any city break to Istanbul, even if it's just to help you appreciate the hustle and bustle of the main city even more.