Updated on September 29, 2017
Day 12 of Turkey Vacation: Bosphorus Tour on August 30th, 2016
August 30th, second day in Istanbul and Victory Day in Turkey.
The plan of the day was to take a tour along Bosphorus Strait. Since we’ve got plenty of time in Istanbul and there’s no need for rushing, we decided to take the full/long Bosphorus tour, which goes all the way to Anadolu Kavağı with the opportunity to seeing Black Sea in the distance.
But before that, we needed to walk to the docks of Eminönü, passing a few attractions along the way. The first stop was Istanbul University.
Gate of Istanbul University
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Founded in the 15th Century, Istanbul University is the oldest surviving education institution in Turkey. But in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks, the university campus was only open to its students and staff. So we walked around it onto Süleymaniye Mosque.
Side Gate of Istanbul University
Side Buildings of Istanbul University
Not after long we were at Süleymaniye Mosque. Since it’s still early in the day, there weren’t many visitors around.
Süleymaniye Mosque
Wudu Airea
Minaret
Gardens
Süleymaniye Mosque against Sky
Süleymaniye Mosque against Sky
Entrance to Inner Court of Süleymaniye Mosque
Prayer Hall
Prayer Hall
Dome of Süleymaniye Mosque
Prayer Hall
Lights and Stained Glasses
Lights and Dome
Like other major mosques in the city, non-Muslims could only visit part of the inner prayer hall of Süleymaniye Mosque, but that’s enough to marvel at its magnificence.
Inner Court
Inner Court
Gate
Side Gate into Inner Court
Süleymaniye Mosque Exterior
Another attraction of Süleymaniye Mosque is that, one can directly see Golden Horn and Bosphorus Strait from the Mosque, with more mosque domes lining up to its North making the perfect foreground for pictures.
Bosphorus and East Istanbul through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
North Istanbul through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
Bosphorus and East Istanbul through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
Galata Bridge through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
North Istanbul through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
Süleymaniye Mosque Exterior
Süleymaniye Mosque Exterior with Towers
North Istanbul through Domes of Süleymaniye Mosque
Dome of Süleymaniye Mosque behind Flowers
Süleymaniye Mosque also houses the tombs of some Ottoman emperors.
Tombs of Ottoman Emperors
Tombs of Ottoman Emperors
Fountain among Flowers
Passage in Süleymaniye Mosque Graveyard
Lawn Irrigation
Emperor Tomb
Süleymaniye Mosque behind Trees
After leaving Süleymaniye Mosque, we headed for Eminönü Dock, passing some commercial districts with vendors moving and selling daily necessitates.
Streets of Istanbul
Streets of Istanbul
Colorful StairsTechnically, it’s missing some colors of a rainbow, so it’s not a rainbow stair.
Galata Tower and Istanbul New City across Golden Horn
People Fishing on Galata BridgeWith Galata Tower across Golden Horn.
Bosphorus
There were many companies operating tours of Bosphorus Strait, we chose Şehir Hatları because it’s the only one operating the long tour that goes all the way near the Black Sea. Also, the company (seemed to be) government owned (that also operated regular passenger ferries across Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn), which meant it’s very reasonably priced (full day long tour at 25TL per person). More information is can be found at http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/seferler/long-bosphorus-tour-362.html.
Outbound Trip
Boarding Bosphorus Tour Boat
Bosphorus Tour Boat InteriorThe tour boat was largely empty.
Even on Turkish Victory Day, the tour boat was largely empty, as most passengers were on the upper decks in open air. A glimpse of the harsh reality facing Turkish tourism industry.
Galata Bridge
Eminönü Dock
Boats in Bosphorus Strait
Topkapı Palace from Emınönü Dock
East Istanbul
Turkish Flag Flying Onboard
By the way, since it’s Victory Day, there were Turkish flags flying all over the city, on palaces, in streets, basically they were everywhere, which was quite a sight.
Passenger Boat Leaving Emınönü
We were on the same type of the boat as in the previous picture, which has symmetric bow and stern meaning it doesn’t need to turn around during docking. That was a very clever feature during short-hop trips like this one.
Galata Tower among Buildings in Istanbul New City
Bernoulli’s Principle Printed on Side of Bosphorus Strait
Mimar Sinan University along Bosphorus Strait
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait
Fındıklı Park along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings and Docks along Bosphorus Strait
Dolmabahçe Mosque along Bosphorus Strait
Dolmabahçe Palace along Bosphorus Strait
Dolmabahçe Palace along Bosphorus Strait
Beşiktaş Dock
Dolmabahçe Palace from Dolmabahçe Palace Dock
Bosphorus Strait near Beşiktaş Dock
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Çırağan Palace in the DistanceOnce an Ottoman Palace and now a five-star hotel.
July 15 Martyrs Bridge and Bosphorus Strait
Dolmabahçe Palace against Wake of Our Ship
Istanbul Old City across Bosphorus Strait
Üsküdar Dock
Buildings in Istanbul New City across Bosphorus Strait
Bosphorus Strait near Üsküdar Dock
Turkish Flag Flying Onboard
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Buildings near July 15 Martyrs Bridge
Buildings near July 15 Martyrs Bridge
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
T.C Ortaköy Mosque
Çırağan PalaceOnce an Ottoman Palace and now a five-star hotel.
Turkish Flag Flying on July 15 Martyrs Bridge
Turkish Flag Flying on July 15 Martyrs Bridge
It was an overcast day, and from the angle of those flags it’s not hard to estimate the strength of winds on that day, which makes a very pleasant experience at the bow of the ship.
Bosphorus Strait North of July 15 Martyrs Bridge
Beylerbeyi Palace
Turkish Coast Guard Ship Parked along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Kuleli Military High School
Mosque Being Constructed in East Istanbul
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Tanker before Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Rumeli Castle and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge among Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Rumelian Castle
Rumelian Castle
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Flags on Our Ship
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Turkish Flag Flying on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Turkish Flag Flying on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Kanlica Dock
Kanlica镇沿岸餐厅
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Boat at Kanlica Dock
Coastal Buildings of of Kanlica
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Bosphorus Strait
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Harbor of Tarabya
The Grand Tarabya Hotel
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Wake of Our Ship
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Control Room of Our Ship
Coastal Buildings of Sariyer
Costal Cafe of Sariyer
Wake of Our Ship
Streets of Sariyer Flying with Turkish Flags
Bosphorus Strait near Sarıyer Dock
Coastal Buildings of Sariyer
Bosphorus Strait
Clouds above Bosphorus Strait
Lighthouse in Bosphorus Strait
Harbor of Rumelikavağı
Water Ejected from Our ShipTo mix with exhaust and reduce particle pollution.
Lighthouse before Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait before Yoros Castle
Yoros Castle
Tanker before Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge
Dock of Anadolu Kavağı
Coastal Buildings and Ships of Anadolu Kavağı
Gull Flying over Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Gull Flying over Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Gull Flying over Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Gull Flying over Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Gull Flying over Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Yacht Entering Anadolu Kavağı Dock
At noon, we were at Anadolu Kavağı. Our boat would stay in the dock for two and a half hours, giving us time to finish lunch in local restaurants, and visit Yoros Castle up the hill with views of the Black Sea.
The name “Anadolu Kaviğı” was derived from the word “kavak” which means “to hold, to stop or to turn around” in various sources and the name “Kavak” which means “border and custom control point” was given to this region.
The Bosphorus village, Anadolu Kavağı, whose history goes back to the very old times, was mainly occupied with fishing, gardening and serving ships who wait for suitable weather for sailing to Black Sea in Byzantium and Ottoman periods is now a mainly tourism village.
The quay of Anadolu Kaviğı is the last quay of Bosphorus on the Anatolian shore.
We were hungry at that time, so we decided to have lunch first.
Gulls on Flotation Block
Ships Parked at Anadolu Kavağı
Container Boat Passing in Bosphorus StraitTwo birds in the foreground still on that flotation object.
Gull in RestaurantIt must had smelt of our food.
My LunchI’m not a big fan of sea food (except shrimps, which this restaurant didn’t provide), so I was ordering the only land food on the menu.
I guess most visitors to would order sea food for lunch, that’s probably why I spent quite a long time spotting gulls and waiting for my dish.
Tanker Passing in Bosphorus Strait
After lunch, we walked uphill to Yoros Castle.
Yoros Castle
Streets of Anadolu Kavağı
Passage onto Yoros Castle
Passage around Yoros Castle
Dog Resting by Yoros CastleIt also got a tag on its ear.
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus StraitAnd Black Sea behind it.
Bosphorus Strait from Yoros Castle
Bosphorus StraitLooking back towards the direction of Istanbul.
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Up at Yoros Castle, we emerged ourselves in the pleasant sea wind, with a spectacular view of the surrounding Bosphorus Strait and Black Sea. There was even a local television crew shooting programs.
Yoros Castle
Yoros Castle
Military Base near Yoros Castle
Dogs in Anadolu Kavağı StreetSomebody as dog-phobia as me would only pass them on the other side of the street in a most inconspicuous manner. And by the way judging from the quality of their fur, they didn’t seem like homeless dogs?
Streets of Anadolu KavağıThat should be an Istanbul city bus. I was surprised that city bus even operated this far.
Fish in Anadolu Kavağı Harbor
Ships and Houses along Anadolu Kavağı CoastI was astounded by my Nexus 6P’s HDR capabilities as I didn’t modify this shot.
Yacht in Anadolu Kavağı
Cat in Anadolu Kavağı Dock
Bosphorus Strait from Anadolu Kavağı Dock
At 3pm we began our journey back to Istanbul.
Oh yeah, remembered I said that every Turkish boy seemed to be an excellent diver by nature? Before we departed, there were a bunch of local boys repeating the sequence of “climbing aboard and jumping into water”, until the dock gate was closed.
Inbound Trip
Coastal House of Anadolu KavağıThis was the restaurant where we had lunch.
Yoros Castle on Hill
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Fishing Boat at Rumelikavağı Dock
Fishing Boat at Rumelikavağı Dock
Fishing Boat at Rumelikavağı Dock
Coastal Restaurant in Rumelikavağı
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Coastal Buildings of Sariyer
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Tanker in Bosphorus Strait
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Small Cargo Ship in Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Carrier Shou Chen Shan Passing Through
Ferry in Bosphorus Strait
Passenger Jet Flying ByShould be one departing from IST airport. I couldn’t see the rear wheels (so it’s not a CRJ series), guess that’s some MD’s.
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Cargo Ship in Bosphorus Strait
Guard and Dummies on Coastal Properties of Bosphorus StraitOf the three, only the man in the middle was real. I guessed the dummies were there to scare away the fish.
Bosphorus Strait from Kanlıca Dock
Tankers in Bosphorus Strait
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Turkish Flag Flying on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge behind Flags on Our Ship
Turkish Flag Flying on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Rumeli Castle and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Rumelian Castle
Rumelian Castle
Rumelian Castle and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Tour Boat in Bosphorus Strait
Rumelian Castle and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
15 July Martyrs Bridge and Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Galatasaray IsletA tiny island turned restaurant and bar.
15 July Martyrs Bridge and Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
July 15 Martyrs Bridge and Buildings and Coastal Guard Ship
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Tanker Passing under July 15 Martyrs Bridge
Turkish Flag Flying on July 15 Martyrs Bridge
T.C Ortaköy Mosque
T.C Ortaköy Mosque
Buildings by Ortaköy Dock
Kabataş Boys’ High School
T.C Ortaköy Mosque before July 15 Martyrs Bridge
Glittering Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait
Hotels along Bosphorus Strait
Çırağan Palace in the DistanceOnce an Ottoman Palace and now a five-star hotel.
Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Tour Boat in Bosphorus Strait
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait near Beşiktaş Dock
Dock of Beşıktaş
Ships along Beşıktaş Dock
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait near Üsküdar
Ships at Üsküdar Dock
Ships at Üsküdar Dock
Buildings along Bosphorus Strait near Üsküdar
Üsküdar Dock
Maiden’s Tower
Haydarpaşa Port
Maiden’s Tower
Dolmabahçe Palace across Bosphorus Strait
Topkapı Palace across Bosphorus Strait
Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn
Ferry Boat in Bosphorus Strait
Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn
July 15 Martyrs Bridge across Bosphorus Strait
Galata Tower among Buildings in Istanbul New City
Galata Bridge and Galata Tower
Birds Resting on Power Lines
After the day’s Bosphorus tour, we crossed Galata Bridge and headed for attractions in Istanbul New City, that is, Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue, Taksim and so on.
Boat at Emınönü Dock
Boats Passing under Galata Bridge
Hagia Sophia from Galata Bridge
Istanbul New City
After crossing Galata Bridge, the journey to Galata Tower involved walking (and climbing) old stone-paved streets lined with artistic shops, selling fashion clothes, oil paintings among souvenirs.
Bereketzade MosqueBuilt in 1453 as the first church of the area. Rebuilt in 2006.
Galata Tower behind Streets of Istanbul
Galata Tower
As with other buildings in Istanbul on this Victory Day, we saw Turkish flag on Galata Tower (that wasn’t there the previous day). There was a huge line of people waiting to climb the tower, so we didn’t join them. I heard of a restaurant on Galata Tower that offers spectacular views of the city, but since we weren’t sure about our timing, we didn’t reserve its seats.
Parking Lot Charge ChartI was wonder a. what vehicle has zero seats and b. how much should one seat vehicle pay, 7 or 10.
Streets of Istanbul New City
Streets of Istanbul New City
Streets of Istanbul with Decorations of Turkish Flags
Turkish Flag on Beyoğlu Municipal Government Building
Buildings in Istanbul New City
Not after long, we were at İstiklal Avenue.
İstiklal Avenue
There seemed to be a demonstration planned for the day. My parents were super-nervous when the two words “Turkey” and “demonstration” met each other, so they rushed me all the way to Taksim.
Demonstrators in İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue
When rushing through İstiklal Avenue, I spotted Sent Antuan Church, as the major Roman Catholic Church in the region, so we paid a visit to it.
Sent Antuan Church
Sent Antuan Church Entrance
Sent Antuan Church Interior
Columns and Windows in Sent Antuan Church
There was a photo gallery of Syrian refugees, and Catholic Church’s open attutide towards them. Well, since the Vatican would be the least affected European nation by the refugee crisis, they can easily shed lights of humanity on this issue, while other European leaders scratch their heads on how to settle them.
İstiklal Avenue
Probably to prevent this demonstration from going out of control, that afternoon local police shut off small portions of İstiklal Avenue, so we took a detour through a (crowded) narrow alley around it.
Because of that, there’s no tram operating on İstiklal Avenue that day.
By judging by the looks of those police officers, they looked so relaxed and it’s hardly convincing that they were preparing for a nasty demonstration that could go wrong.
Military Gear in İstiklal Avenue outside Galatasaray High School
Police in İstiklal Avenue outside Galatasaray High School
İstiklal Avenue
Shop on İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue
Buildings on İstiklal AvenueWith Huge Turkish flag celebrating the holiday.
Turkish Flags at Taksim
Republic Monument
People near Taksim
After reaching Taksim, the nerves of my parents were still unsettled, as they saw more people (come on, it’s a plaza, it holds more people than a street) as more threat to their life. So they decided to call it a day, and took the tram back to our hotel.
Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church
Streets in Istanbul New City
My Dinner in Burger King
END
Day 12 of Turkey Vacation: Bosphorus Tour on August 30th, 2016 by Huang's Site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.