Hosca kalin, Istanbul

What an incredible week.  The rain poured yesterday and drizzled for the early part of today, so we finished up our visit with 'indoor' activities.  First--a trip to the Grand Bazaar to pick up some souvenirs.

After the bazaar, we toured our last mosque--Suleyimane the Magnificent Mosque.  It had a much more serene feel than the Blue Mosque--and the exterior looked like it could have been in Florence.  We were there just before the 1PM Friday call to prayer, so there were many worshipers preparing for worship.

Today, we visited the last Ottoman palace--Dolhambace. 

Sadly, no photos were allowed, so you'll have to take our word that the Baccarat staircase was pretty impressive...but NOTHING compared to the grand reception room with the 118 foot ceiling and 4.5 ton crystal chandelier.  There was only one picture that we COULD take- at the palace-and, for Terry, it was proof that he is surely Ottoman:

We were looking for a place for a quick lunch after the visit and, of course, thought, "Asia!"  We hopped on the Mamary subway.  In four minutes we traveled underneath the Bosphorus to Asia.  The tunnel/train opened on Republic Day in October, 2013--exactly 39 years after the first bridge was opened across the Bosphorus.  The Asian side of the city is much more progressive than even Taksim.  We encountered our first female waiter today in Uskudar.  You'll probably never be able to see this wonderful tile mural depicting the new tunnel & train connecting two continents:

Without reservation, the people of Istanbul have  been the most hospitable we've ever encountered...anywhere.  The city is exotic and incredibly comfortable at the same time.  Our only disappointment?  Turkish Delight.  Hardly worth mentioning, as every other facet of this city has been extraordinary.  With any luck (we're flying through Paris), we should be home tomorrow--wishing we were still here.  The 5PM call to prayer has just started...