{"id":2295,"date":"2016-08-31T22:59:34","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T14:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=2295"},"modified":"2017-10-02T22:24:37","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T14:24:37","slug":"20160831istanbul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2016\/08\/31\/20160831istanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 13 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on August 31st, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Third day in Istanbul.
\nThe plan of the day was to visit Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace on Bosphorus Strait, then wander around the old city of Istanbul for the attractions that were left behind in the first day.
\n

\"Yachts<\/a>

<\/br>Yachts at Be\u015fikta\u015f Dock<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n


\nThe images in this post are hosted on Imgur. Email me should there be any display problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace was just North of the terminal station Kabata\u015f of Istanbul Tram 1. We saw its splendid facade during yesterday’s Bosphorus tour, and would visit its interior today.
\n

\"Clock<\/a>

<\/br>Clock Tower<\/p><\/div>
\nDolmabah\u00e7e Palace was not covered by our museum passes, so we purchased tickets of its main palace and harem. The visit of the Palace rooms was escorted by a tour guide, as the Palace was still in operation and served as Turkish president’s residence when he visited Istanbul. There were English tours and Turkish tours available at the main palace and harem.
\n

\"Gate\"<\/a>

<\/br>Gate<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Passage\"<\/a>

<\/br>Passage<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Pool<\/a>

<\/br>Pool and Fountain<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cat\"<\/a>

<\/br>Cat<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Pool<\/a>

<\/br>Pool and Fountain<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Gate<\/a>

<\/br>Gate of the Treasury<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Renovations<\/a>

<\/br>Renovations at Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace<\/br>Where the cover net was neatly painted with outlines of the palace building.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Flowers<\/a>

<\/br>Flowers and Lion Sculpture<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Chandelier<\/a>

<\/br>Chandelier in Ceremonial Hall<\/br>It’s said to be the world’s largest.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Photography was not permitted in the palace rooms, so there won\u2019t any photos of its interior available, expect of this giant chandelier, the photo of which I took, technically outside the palace rooms.
\nA brief summary of its interior. If Topkapi Palace was a random collection of kiosks and rooms that new emperors erect at will, where power was showcased through the space it occupied, the amount of servants it employed, Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace was like a carefully planned modern architecture, where power was displayed through the order and visual impression, through the amount of glittering gold employed and the complexity of its rooms. <\/p>\n

\"Gate<\/a>

<\/br>Gate to the Bosphorus<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Dolmabah\u00e7e<\/a>

<\/br>Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace Facade<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Gate<\/a>

<\/br>Gate to the Bosphorus<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Garden<\/a>

<\/br>Garden Passage<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Harem<\/a>

<\/br>Harem Museum Facade<\/br>This portion of the Harem now served as an art museum. Admission was free for those with Harem tickets.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\nAgain, no photos in Harem Art Museum.
\n

\"Passage\"<\/a>

<\/br>Passage<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Room<\/a>

<\/br>Room in Harem<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the harem tour, which introduced us to the rooms where the king\u2019s wives lived. Strictly speaking, photograph wasn\u2019t allowed, but it seemed this rule was much less strictly enforced in the harem part, as most visitors in our group were discreetly taking photos with their cell phones.<\/p>\n

\"Clock<\/a>

<\/br>Clock Museum<\/p><\/div>\n

After that, we were given a tour of Dolmabah\u00e7e Zoo, with turkeys and ducks and chicken running all over the place.<\/p>\n

\"Turkey\"<\/a>

<\/br>Turkey<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fountain\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fountain<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cones\"<\/a>

<\/br>Cones<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cones\"<\/a>

<\/br>Cones<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Dolmabah\u00e7e<\/a>

<\/br>Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace Harem Exterior<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Pool<\/a>

<\/br>Pool with Rockery<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Duck<\/a>

<\/br>Duck Swimming in Pool<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ducks<\/a>

<\/br>Ducks Swimming in Pool<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ducks<\/a>

<\/br>Ducks Swimming in Pool<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Chicken\"<\/a>

<\/br>Chicken<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Chicken\"<\/a>

<\/br>Chicken<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Chicken\"<\/a>

<\/br>Chicken<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Dolmabah\u00e7e<\/a>

<\/br>Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fountain<\/a>

<\/br>Fountain and Buildings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fountain<\/a>

<\/br>Fountain and Buildings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Flowers<\/a>

<\/br>Flowers and Lion Sculpture<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Vodafone<\/a>

<\/br>Vodafone Arena<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Dolmabah\u00e7e<\/a>

<\/br>Dolmabah\u00e7e Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Yacht<\/a>

<\/br>Yacht at Be\u015fikta\u015f Dock<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Driver<\/a>

<\/br>Driver Cab of Istanbul Tram<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After that, we took the tram to our next stop, which was Sultan Ahmet Mosque.<\/p>\n

\"Opoen-Air<\/a>

<\/br>Opoen-Air Theatre by Hippodrome of Constantinople<\/p><\/div>\n

Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Tree<\/a>

<\/br>Tree in Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Spires<\/a>

<\/br>Spires of Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Spires<\/a>

<\/br>Spires of Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Minaret<\/a>

<\/br>Minaret and Inner Court of Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Unfortunately by the time we reached Sultan Ahmet Mosque, it was prayer time, so we just took some photos of its magnificent exterior, and left.<\/p>\n

\"Columns<\/a>

<\/br>Columns and Arches of Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Minaret<\/a>

<\/br>Minaret of Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Hagia<\/a>

<\/br>Hagia Sophia<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Our next stop was Yerebatan Cistern, also known as Underground Water City in English. It used to be a reservoir for Topkap\u0131 Palace, now converted to a tourist attraction with illuminated columns reflected by waters.
\nOh, Yerebatan Cistern was not affiliated to Turkish Minister of Culture, so it didn\u2019t accept museum passes.<\/p>\n

Yerebatan Cistern<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Arches<\/a>

<\/br>Arches and Visitors to Yerebatan Cistern<\/p><\/div>\n

The flat railings in Yerebatan Cistern allowed me to place my camera, which resulted in these stunning photos.<\/p>\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fish\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fish<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fish\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fish<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fish\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fish<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fish\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fish<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Medusa<\/a>

<\/br>Medusa Column<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Medusa<\/a>

<\/br>Medusa Column<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Water<\/a>

<\/br>Water Divider<\/br>So that Medusa Columns wouldn\u2019t be submerged.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Column<\/a>

<\/br>Column with Shapes of Eyes<\/br>It\u2019s said that the weeping eyes were the tears of the slaves that were used in the construction of Yerebatan Cistern.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns\"<\/a>

<\/br>Columns<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Fish\"<\/a>

<\/br>Fish<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sultan<\/a>

<\/br>Sultan Ahmet Mosque<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After Yerebatan Cistern, our next stop was Istanbul Archeology Museum by Topkap\u0131 Palace, which was covered by our museum passes.<\/p>\n

\"Cat<\/a>

<\/br>Cat Resting in Istanbul Bench<\/br>The tail of this cat kept waving around even though he\u2019s asleep.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Calvery<\/a>

<\/br>Calvery in Topkap\u0131 Palace<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Istanbul<\/a>

<\/br>Istanbul Archeology Museum Entrance<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cat<\/a>

<\/br>Cat Sleeping on Istanbul Archeology Museum Window<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Istanbul Archeology Museum<\/span><\/h3>\n

Istanbul Archeology Museum consisted of several pavilions, with lots of exhibits. We stayed about two hours in the museum, and only covered part of the exhibit.<\/p>\n

\"Sundial\"<\/a>

<\/br>Sundial<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Stone<\/a>

<\/br>Stone Carvings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Mummy\"<\/a>

<\/br>Mummy<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tile<\/a>

<\/br>Tile Art of Horses<\/br>There\u2019s one missing, which was replaced with modern tiles.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Linear<\/a>

<\/br>Linear Measurement<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Bath<\/a>

<\/br>Bath Basin<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Carvings<\/a>

<\/br>Carvings of Law Codes<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Carvings<\/a>

<\/br>Carvings of Love Poem<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Stele<\/a>

<\/br>Stele Carvings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Kadesh<\/a>

<\/br>Kadesh Treaty<\/br>The earliest known parity peace-treaty.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Stone<\/a>

<\/br>Stone Relief<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sculpture\"<\/a>

<\/br>Sculpture<\/br>Should be Poseidon.<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Stone<\/a>

<\/br>Stone Relief<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Bell<\/a>

<\/br>Bell from Galata Tower<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Portions<\/a>

<\/br>Portions of Golden Horn Chains<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Circular<\/a>

<\/br>Circular Stairs in Istanbul Archeology Museum<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Columns<\/a>

<\/br>Columns with Decorations<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sarcophagus\"<\/a>

<\/br>Sarcophagus<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Relief<\/a>

<\/br>Relief with Portrait<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Relief<\/a>

<\/br>Relief with Portrait<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Mermaid<\/a>

<\/br>Mermaid Head<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Utensils\"<\/a>

<\/br>Utensils<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tiled<\/a>

<\/br>Tiled Pavilion Exterior<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tiled<\/a>

<\/br>Tiled Pavilion Entrance<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Plate<\/a>

<\/br>Plate with Drawings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Hexagonal<\/a>

<\/br>Hexagonal Plates<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Plate<\/a>

<\/br>Plate with Drawings<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Hexagonal<\/a>

<\/br>Hexagonal Windows<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Room<\/a>

<\/br>Room with Decorated Islamic Symbols<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Star-Shaped<\/a>

<\/br>Star-Shaped Tiles<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Cover<\/a>

<\/br>Cover of Ancient Pot<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tiled<\/a>

<\/br>Tiled Pavilion Exterior<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Decorated<\/a>

<\/br>Decorated Tombs<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Decorated<\/a>

<\/br>Decorated Tombs<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Decorated<\/a>

<\/br>Decorated Tombs<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Decorated<\/a>

<\/br>Decorated Tombs<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ancient<\/a>

<\/br>Ancient Mosaic<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Medallion<\/a>

<\/br>Medallion Decorated with Medusa’s Head<\/br>Displayed along stairs in Istanbul Archeology Museum<\/span><\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Grave<\/a>

<\/br>Grave Stele<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Water<\/a>

<\/br>Water Fountain<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Medusa<\/a>

<\/br>Medusa Head<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Open-Air<\/a>

<\/br>Open-Air Display of Columns<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After Istanbul Archeology Museum, we walked towards the dock of Em\u0131n\u00f6n\u00fc.<\/p>\n

\"Walls<\/a>

<\/br>Walls around G\u00fclhane Park<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tramway<\/a>

<\/br>Tramway Renovation<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Tram<\/a>

<\/br>Tram Blocked by Traffic<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Streets<\/a>

<\/br>Streets of Istanbul<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Sirkeci Railway Station<\/span><\/h3>\n

On the way, we passed Sirkeci Railway Station, which was the station where the in<\/del>famous Orient Express departed.<\/p>\n

\"Sirkeci<\/a>

<\/br>Sirkeci Railway Station Platform<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Waiting<\/a>

<\/br>Waiting Room in Sirkeci Railway Station<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sirkeci<\/a>

<\/br>Sirkeci Railway Station<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Sirkeci<\/a>

<\/br>Sirkeci Railway Station Exterior<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Yeni Mosque<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our last stop of the day was Yeni Mosque, also known as the New Mosque (although it wasn’t new in today’s standard). It was prayer time by the time we arrived, so we just took photos of its exterior.<\/p>\n

\"Minaret<\/a>

<\/br>Minaret and Inner Court of Yeni Mosque<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Ablution<\/a>

<\/br>Ablution Fountain<\/p><\/div>
\n

\"Minaret<\/a>

<\/br>Minaret of Yeni Mosque<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

After that, we planned to take the ferry boat on Golden Horn to Ey\u00fcp. But because there were so many docks in Emin\u00f6n\u00fc (and for a brief moment I brain didn’t properly function, as I was running around frantically instead of looking at the cruise lines in Google Maps), we missed the 6pm ferry that we planned to take. So instead, we headed for a nearby KFC and finished our dinner.<\/p>\n

\"Our<\/a>

<\/br>Our Dinner in KFC<\/p><\/div>
\nBefore I end, I shall say Burger King and McDonald’s were much better in Turkey than KFC.
\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Third day in Istanbul. The plan of the day was to visit Dolmabah\u00e7e Palace on Bosphorus Strait, then wander around the old city of Istanbul for the attractions that were left behind in the first day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172,2],"tags":[264,257,267,268,265,269,266],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2295"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2295"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2765,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2295\/revisions\/2765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}