Here is a small selection of snaps from our stay in Istanbul, a beautiful and vibrant city with great street life, art, architecture, history, and an overlay of old world hospitality and charm.... uh oh, beginning to sound like a commercial.
Of course we visited the major sites (the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi, and the Grand Bazaar), but many favorite moments for my wandering eyes were found along the winding back street neighborhoods and markets off the tourist trail.
city of a million cats ...
arriving a few days after Christmas, it was interesting to note a mini trend of "commando santas"
rappelling down walls around the city ...
"let sleeping dogs lie" ....
