A Tree Falling

Sunday, August 23, 2026

Eastern Europe 2026: Istanbul, European Side, Part I

Danelle and I ended our Eastern Europe trip with a short flight from Bucharest to Istanbul (not Constantinople). We booked three nights at a hotel in Old Town, so just a sampling as opposed to a deep dive. First up: the city's European side.

Our hotel was less than a five-minute walk from the city's ancient Roman Hippodrome which features the Obelisk of Theodosius, an ancient Egyptian obelisk originally carved in the 15th century BC and set up at the Temple of Karnak in Egypt. The pink granite pillar was transported to Alexandria in the 4th century, then brought to Constantinople in 390 AD by Theodosius I.

The Sphendone Remains are the only surviving remnants of the Hippodrome' original walls and arches.

Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Bordering the plaza is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque. Although we arrived shortly after it opened to the public for the day, crowds already filled the site to marvel at its domes and columns.

The mosque's interior features over 20,000 handmade blue İznik ceramic tiles, featuring flowers like tulips and lilies that cover the upper levels and glow blue in the natural light.

The structure features a grand central dome supported by four cascading semi-domes and large decorated pillars., with more than 200 small stained-glass windows at the base of the domes to filter natural light into the prayer hall.

The mosque's marble courtyard is a popular location for photos, for obvious reasons.

The historic Hagia Sophia is a unique mix of a 6th-century Byzantine dome, grand arches, and massive Islamic calligraphic roundels. Originally constructed as a Christian basilica between 532 and 537 under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it was converted to a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Southwest Vestibule Mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

The southwest vestibule exit gateway inside the Hagia Sophia features a 10th-century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus flanked by Emperors Justinian I and Constantine the Great. I love that the Ottomans kept so many of the Christian elements; it's a rare conqueror who shows so much respect for the conquered.

The Basilica Cistern is a massive 6th-century underground water reservoir designed to hold up to 100,000 tons of water that was also built during the reign of Justinian I.

The space features 336 massive marble columns, and was very challenging to shoot in without a tripod. I'm not unhappy with the results, though.

Our tour guide took us to a rooftop restaurant to get this view of the Blue Mosque, and a seagull thoughtfully decided to add a little something special to the scene.

Related Links: