Tag Archives: Turkey

July 9, 2018 · 5:35 am

54 Days at Sea — Trabzon, Turkey

Trabzon, Turkey

M.S. Prinsendam arrived at the Turkish Black Sea port of Trabzon on April 21, the day after bidding farewell from Batumi, Georgia. The day was cloudy with intermittent rain, so I didn’t get a whole lot of photography in that day. Even the views from the port were a bit uninspiring:

Trabzon, Turkey

And here’s a view of the town taken from the decks of the M.S. Prinsendam:

Trabzon, Turkey

Off the ship and walking the streets we found this pedestrian shopping area:

Trabzon, Turkey

A interesting place for shoppers was the Avrupali Pazari (Russian Bazaar), although a far cry from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul:

Russian Bazaar, Trabzon

Of course, it wouldn’t be Turkey without a gold outlet:

Trabzon gold

In Trabzon is a statue of the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who is also known as the founder of the Republic of Turkey (1923) following the defeat and eventual dissolution of the Ottoman Empire (1922).

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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June 22, 2018 · 5:05 am

Fun Photo Friday — 54 Days at Sea; Last look at Istanbul

Istanbul Tulips

Once last look at Istanbul before heading into the Black Sea:

Blue Mosque

Istanbul Tulips

Hagia Sophia

Istanbul Tulips

Istanbul

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Tagged as cruise ship, Fun, Fun Photo Friday, Holland America, Istanbul, MS Prinsendam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, Turkey, vacation

June 20, 2018 · 5:35 am

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; More sights along the Bosporus and the Grand Bazaar

MS Prinsendam in Istanbul

The cruise tours are located just east of the Galata Bridge near the south end of the bridge, within just a few minutes walk.

Galata Bridge

We cruised northward up the Bosporus to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also called the Second Bosporus Bridge, as it is north of the First/Bosporus/15 July Martyrs Bridge. Farther north, beyond where our Bosporus cruise would go this day, is yet a third suspension bridge. Beyond that is the Black Sea, where MS Prinsendam would head after departing this night.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

Between the Fatih district and the Fatish Sultan Mehmet Bridge we sailed past Beylerbeyi Palace:

Beylerbeyi Palace

We also passed various buildings of interest, including this traditional wooden Ottoman house:

Bosporus cruise

I’ve already shown you one image of this next fortress, but here is a view of the Rumelian Castle with colorful trees in the foreground:

Rumelihisarı (Rumelian Castle) Museum

There is one other stop in Istanbul one simply must make. That would be the Grand Bazaar. Here you’ll find everything from fabrics, to gold jewelry, to furnishings, to spices, although the spice markets: