Day 14 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on September 1st, 2016

by admin

Last day in Istanbul and in Turkey.
As a result of yesterday’s missing ferry, the plan of the day was to first visit Eyüp, then take the ferry back to Eminönü as a tour of the Golden Horn. After that, it’s Sultan Ahmet Mosque that we failed to visit during the previous days due to its prayer time, and finally make our way to the airport.

Istanbul Tram Beyazıt Station

The images in this post are hosted on Imgur. Email me should there be any display problems.

Since Google Maps didn’t support the bus system of Istanbul, in the previous days we had been trying to avoid the bus system of the city. For the last day, however, I found Istanbul City’s official app of its bus system, and it showed that there was a bus line leaving Istanbul University that would take me to Eyüp.

Pigeons before Istanbul University

Buses at Vezneciler Station

Eyüp Dock

Golden Horn Glitters against Sun

I chose to take the cable car uphill, and walk downhill.

Pierre Loti Overlooking Golden Horn

Golden Horn Bridge and Istanbul Old City in the Distance

Pierre Loti Overlooking Golden Horn

Istanbul New City

There was a cafe named after the French novelist Pierre Loti up the hill (by the way the name of the hill was also “Pierre Loti”). It’s said that Pierre Loti met and fell in love with a lady when he was living in Istanbul near the Eyüp region.

Paved Street by Pierre Loti

Passage through Pierre Loti Graveyard

Water Fountain in Pierre Loti Graveyard

Passage through Pierre Loti Graveyard

Minaret of Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Cat Resting in Shade

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

After I finished the tour of Mount. Pierre Loti, there was still time to kill before the hourly Golden Horn ferry departed. So I visited the nearby Eyüp Sultan Mosque, which was not the grandest church in the city, but still very well-decorated.

Walls

Arches

Prayer Court

Back Passage in Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Spires against Sun

Plaza by Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Fountain by Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Dock of Eyüp

Haliç Congress Center across Golden Horn

Şehir Hatları Flag and Turkish Flag against Sun

Eyüp Dock

Haliç Congress Center across Golden Horn

Dock of Eyüp

Boats at Sütlüce Dock

Looking Back at Eyüp

Buildings along Golden Horn

Minarets of Bademlik Mosque above Golden Horn

Turkish Flag Onboard Flying

Ships at Rahmi M. Koç Museum

TCG Uluçalireis and Ships at Rahmi M. Koç Museum

Hasköy Park and Buildings along Golden Horn

Bridge Remains at Golden Horn

Hasköy Park and Buildings along Golden Horn

Storage Facilities along Golden Horn
Seemed to be some abandoned military base.

Park and Buildings along Golden Horn

Buildings along Golden Horn

Ship in Golden Horn

Ships near Kasımpaşa Dock

Gull Flying By

Buildings along Golden Horn

Gull Flying By

Minaret of Süleymaniye Mosque behind Atatürk Bridge

Man Fishing on Atatürk Bridge

Structure of Atatürk Bridge

Minaret of Süleymaniye Mosque behind Golden Horn Metro Bridge

People on Golden Horn Metro Bridge

Süleymaniye Mosque from Golden Horn

Golden Horn Metro Bridge

Ferry Boat in Golden Horn
The ship that I took.

After arriving at Eminönü Dock, I attempted to visit Yeni Mosque once again, and found it still closed.

Domes of Yeni Mosque

Gate of Yeni Mosque

Plaza and Fountain South of Yeni Mosque

Yeni Mosque Exterior

After that, I walked towards Sultan Ahmet Mosque, passing the Egyptian Bazaar and the winding streets of Istanbul Old City, perhaps for the last time.

The Egyptian Bazaar

Istanbul General Post Office Building

Vakıf Bank Building

Streets of Istanbul

Luckily, Sultan Ahmet Mosque was open to visitors this time.
Of the many mosques in the city of Istanbul, Sultan Ahmet Mosque was the most considerate to its non-Muslim visitors, as it provided free garments that meet Islamic standards, especially for women.

Lawn

Gate
The chains were there to remind Sultan to dismount.

Gate to Inner Court

Sultan Ahmet Mosque

Fountain and Minaret

Minarets and Wall

Prayer Hall

Lights in Prayer Hall

Dome and Arches of Prayer Hall

Dome of Prayer Hall

Lights and Arches of Prayer Hall

Sultan Ahmet Mosque Exterior

Having visited Sultan Ahmet Mosque and still early in the day, we walked across Hippodrome of Constantinople to Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, which was covered by our museum passes.
By the way, the valid period of the Turkish Museum Pass was 14 days, just enough for our entire visit.

Sailing Instrument

Islamic Scripts

Door and Door Knob of the Great Mosque of Cizre

Beggar’s Bowl

Sail Chart with Islamic Symbols

Islamic Scripts

Prophet Beard

Iron Crown

Sultan Ahmet Mosque behind Obelisk of Theodosius

Court of Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts Entrance

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts Window

Walled Obelisk against Sun

After that, we walked back to our hotel and picked up our luggage, took the tram to some shopping mall in West Istanbul and spent the rest of our Turkish Lira on gifts and foods, and made our way to the airport.