Modern day Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world. East meets West, the city literally straddles Europe and Asia. It is bustling and vibrant. A city of contrasts it is predominantly Muslim but has a rich Christian history and embraces that also and the two cultures coexist freely in all aspects including dress code and issues such as the availability of alcohol, a marked contrast to so many other Muslim countries. Add to it a rich history that goes back to the year 300 AD and this place has something for everyone.
The Greeks first established an outpost on the European side of the Bosporus known as Byzantium. Roman emperor Constantine settled there in 330 AD and built a capitol there named after him and the administrative and spiritual centre of the Eastern Roman Empire. Interestingly it lasted 1000 years surpassing even the fall of the western Roman Empire. The Ottomans conquered it in 1453 and that empire became the greatest at the time stretching from the middle east through north Africa, Spain and Eastern Europe.
We land at midday and check in around 2pm and literally hit the ground running. Our hotel is right in the heart of the old town so most sights are within walking distance. First port of call is Sirecki train station to secure our train tickets onwards to Sofia but also admire the elegant architecture and memorabilia of the terminus of the Orient Express.
The afternoon is completed with a stroll through the iconic Sultan Ahmet Square. Named for the 16th Sultan of the Ottoman empire built the Blue Mosque within that square, a renown landmark of Istanbul. The other famous landmark here bookends the Blue mosque built by Emperor Justinian in 532 as a Catholic Basilica. The sun is shining and the crowds seem happy and our journey has begun. All is right with the world.
