Istanbul – A Fairy Tale

All along I thought I had shown you the pictures from our trip to Istanbul, Turkey in the last days of 2011, and the first ones of 2012… I’ve realized I never did.

I have never shown you the view from the inner side of Topkapı Saray‘s west gate uncovering the Blue Mosque… Or the group of friends strolling down an alley at the Spice Market while laughing at each others’ jokes. Or the many-many mosques that reign on every hill of this enigmatic city. Or the true marvel of Istanbul, which is taking a walk in the small and not frequently visited by tourist streets on the west bank of the Golden Horn. The old houses and their ambiance that seems totally disconnected from the hectic pace the world moves by on the main streets of the old Turkish capital. Or the shoeshiner and his customer who were exchanging pleasantries in an incomprehensible language to me while the former was doing what he does for a living. Or the geometric perspective I have witnessed in probably the greatest temple of God I have ever set my foot in – Hagia Sophia.

I’ve never done any of this. So, now I do.

Istanbul has put a spell on me. I fell in love with it. Wholeheartedly and irreversibly. I want to go back.

Until then, I have my photos and memories to remember you by, Istanbul!

A mosque on the hill
A mosque on the hill
A mosque
A mosque
Another mosque
Another mosque
A mosque's inner yard
A mosque’s inner yard
Alone amongst others
Alone amongst others
Friends at the Spice Market
Friends at the Spice Market
Another Turkish well
Another Turkish well
Falling apart
Falling apart
Feeding the pigeons
Feeding the pigeons
Inside Hagia Sophia
Inside Hagia Sophia
Gate
Gate
Seeing through Topkapı's gate
Seeing through Topkapı’s gate
A Golden Horn boat
A Golden Horn boat
A Golden Horn vessel
A Golden Horn vessel
Houses in colors
Houses in colors
Wooden house
Wooden house
Old building in Istanbul
Old building in Istanbul
The Blue Mosque minarets
The Blue Mosque minarets
Houses on the hill
Houses on the hill
Houses
Houses
Inside the Harem
Inside the Harem
Through the window of Hagia Sophia
Through the window of Hagia Sophia
A Turkish well
A Turkish well
Turkish Flags
Turkish Flags
The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque
Mosque
Mosque
The shoeshiner and the customer
The shoeshiner and the customer
Left alone
Left alone
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia

Copyright © 2014 Borislav Kiprin. All Rights Reserved.