R. Doug Wicker — Author | Stories of Mystery and Adventure

August 5, 2024 · 5:35 am

Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Entering the Grounds

Topkapı Palace (Turkish: *Topkapı Sarayı*)

You would think that in all the times Ursula and I have visited Istanbul, we would’ve at least once before managed to hit the world-famous Topkapi Palace in the Fatih District. But, nope, never have… until our April visit this year. And since on prior visits we’d already seen the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cisterns, we ran out of excuses to miss this wonderful place. Locals will tell you that you only need couple hours to see it all. Baloney. We spent over five hours, and I’m sure we still missed some of it. Give yourself the day. You can always leave earlier and hit the nearby Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, but you do not want to run out of time should you start Topkapi later.

You’ll also want to arrive early because lines form. Long lines. Long, long lines.

Today we begin with a four-week look at this huge complex. Over those next several weeks I’ll show you the armory, jewels, harem, and lots of other stuff. But today I’m going to concentrate on the grounds and the first structure we entered, the kitchen. Let’s start with the image below, the original location of the Sancak-ı Şerif, the standard of the Prophet Muhammad.

Original Location of the Sancak-ı Şerif standard

The grounds here are very impressive, and there are plenty of trees available to frame your shots:

There are four main courtyards here at the Topkapi Palace, and in the third courtyard you’ll find the Chamber of Petitions (Arz Odası):

As for architectural details, you’ll be greeted by some interesting ones almost everywhere you turn. I wound up on this visit taking many shots such as this shot of the columns and arches adorning the portico of the Conqueror’s Pavllion (Fatih Köşkü):

The colonnaded portico of the Conqueror’s Pavillion (*Fatih Köşkü*), Third Courtyard

In the second courtyard you’ll find access to the palace kitchens, which also house a collection of porcelains. Today’s last four photos show what you’ll find in the kitchen area:

On Wednesday I’ll show you emeralds and gold, including the famous Topkapi Dagger that was the object of desire in the 1964 comedy-heist film Topkapi.

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Comments Off on Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Entering the Grounds

Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Istanbul, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Topkapi, Topkapi Palace, travel, travel photography, vacation

August 2, 2024 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Istanbul; Bosporus Favorites

The image above is a repeat of sorts. I took a very similar photo of these wedding boats way back in 2011. Here’s that image from 2011:

Now for today’s Fun Photo Friday images of Istanbul favorites:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Comments Off on Fun Photo Friday — Istanbul; Bosporus Favorites

Filed under Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Bosphorus, Bosphorus Strait, Bosporus, Bosporus Strait, Galata Bridge, Golden Horn, Istanbul, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

July 31, 2024 · 5:35 am

Istanbul — Finishing Our Bosporus/Golden Horn Cruise and Exploring the Galata Bridge Area

Istanbul panoramic taken from the Bosporus

Today I’m still covering our 21 April 2024 tour upon the Bosporus Strait and into the Golden Horn. But this time I’m showing the trip back toward the Galata Bridge as our tour boat reversed course, traded sides of the strait, and headed southwest. Toward the end of today’s article I’ll show you the area around the south end of the Galata Bridge, which Ursula and I visited after disembarking from the tour boat.

Map of the Bosporus Strait and the Golden Horn

You may recall from Monday that we sailed past the Ortaköy Mosque, built around 1855. What you didn’t see is this angle of the mosque taken from the opposite side:

Next up, behold the Dolmabahçe Palace (below). This massive palace was completed in 1856, and twice served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire (1856-1887; 1902-1922).

Meanwhile, almost directly across from the Dolmabahçe Palace, on the Asian side of the Bosporus, lies the Yeni Valide Mosque (completed 1710):

And almost next door to the Yeni Valide Mosque is another much smaller one, the Şemsi Pasha Mosque completed in 1581:

Just southwest of the Şemsi Pasha Mosque is where the Golden Horn estuary branches off from the Bosporus Strait. You’ll know when you get there, because here you reach the Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi). The small island upon which the tower sits has served many purposes over the centuries. It has been a customs station, a quarantine station, a garrison barracks; and the structures that have towered over it have served as lookout. The current 1725 structure served as a lighthouse.

Time to turn into the Golde Horn, where the most prominent feature is the eleven-story, 13th century Galata Tower.

But before we make that turn into the Golden Horn, let’s take another look to the north where we’ll find the Dolmabahçe Mosque (1855). The Dolmabahçe Mosque is located just southwest of the previously mentioned (and viewed) Dolmabahçe Palace:

Now our boat passes beneath the Galata Bridge, where if you look to the south you will see the New Mosque (formerly the Valide Sultan Mosque). But don’t let the “New” moniker fool you. This impressive structure dominating the skyline south of the Galata Bridge was begun in 1597 and not completed until 1665.