Turkey

Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey.
Originally the name was Constantinople when it was capital of Roman empire and later Byzantine empire.
It's very European city and has lot of specific charm

Subway platforms of Istanbul are nicely decorated

Coaches are modern and are normally very crowded

Some stations look like artistic collages

Istanbul has a very rich historical inheritance

In one of the central districts is the Armenian Patriarchate

Right next to it is an Armenian church and college

In neighborhood a lot of Armenian shops can be seen

As well as restaurants, like this one called, blind Agop

Several old buildings are still preserved, unfortunately looks like they are not being maintained

Istanbul is full of cats, they are everywhere

Turkish number plates and a cat

Turkish banknote is called Lira and on all of them Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is portrayed

historical old parts of Istanbul are pretty hilly. Young guy collecting trash in old town.

At some locations stairs are painted in rainbow colors

There are a lot of active Armenian churches in Istanbul

cutting branches of trees, preparing for spring

At some locations trash containers are underground stroges

nice building of university museum

one of the long central squares of Istanbul used to be ancient hippodrome, e.g. horse racing track.
Along the hippodrome there are several historical columns like this walled obelisk

another column has been created by ancient greeks to commemorate important victory over Persians.

another column is Egyptian obelisk with cool base, made in a way in order to withstand earthquakes

right next to column is the beautiful Blue Mosque

the entrance rules

the mosque is called blue due to blue tales used for interior decoration

right next to Blue Mosque is the church of Saint Sophia or Hagia Sophia
it is a Byzantine Church which has been converted to Mosque and now is a museum

it is truly fascinating, the main entrance

interior has been adapted a lot when it was a mosque, on the second floor there are huge Arabic calligraphies

its super spacious inside

if you put your thumb in the whole and turn your hand 360 degree, all your wishes will come true.
Just judging how shiny the metal around the whole is, there are many tourists catching on that shit.

marvelous corridor in church

the huge calligraphies are done on wood

interior has a lot of great mosaics

and the crosses have been removed

an interesting optical illusion inside the church

the view to Blue Mosque from Stain Sophia

just next to Saint Sophia is super unique Basilica Cistern

water accumulates in this dark place forming mystical atmosphere

one of the columns has texture of tears on it

and another is based on head of medusa

the column of Constantine, erected by Byzantine emperor with the same name

shoe cleaner in action

the main entrance to Grand Bazar of Istanbul

the channel of Bosphorus with overview of Galata tower

along the bridge a lot of people are fishing

the catch is pretty solid

on the other side of bridge is the oldest Armenian church in Istanbul, the St. Gregory Illuminator church

not that far away from church is number one landmark of Istanbul - Galata tower

line for climbing the tower up

probably the most iconic center of Istanbul is the Taksim square.
At the central part of it is a monument to Kemal Ataturk with Russian generals.

in 10-15mins walk away from Taksim square is the alley of the world famous Armenian-Turkish photographer Ara Güller

there you can find a small and cousie Caffe named after him