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@ Hagia Sophia in the moonlight, Istanbul
Merry Christmas begins her tour of "Turkey: Marmara 1". Merhaba nasılsınız!
Hagia Sophia in the moonlight, Istanbul
A stunning view, by moonlight of The Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, was built in 537 as the Church of Hagia Sophia and was the largest Christian church of the eastern Roman Empire. In 1453 with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a Mosque.

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@ Fresco, Museum Of The Ancient East
"Oh, Dreamer, listen to this. Leonardo da Vinci was almost responsible for the design of the Galata Bridge in Istanbul."
"Only almost, Merry Christmas?"
"It says here that in 1502 'Sultan Beyazid II asked da Vinci to design a bridge that would span the Golden Horn. Following the three geometric principles of the pressed-bow, parabolic curve and keystone arch, da Vinci’s design would have been the world’s longest bridge at that time, but the Sultan did not approve it'.
"Do you think he kicked himself ever afterwards, Merry Christmas? It's a bit like that record company turning down the Beatles, isn't it?"
Fresco, Museum Of The Ancient East
The Eastern Museum is located in the Archaeological Museum complex, next to the famous Topkapi Palace and Gulhane Park in Istanbul. The museum displays more than a million exhibits showcasing the history and cultures, spanning over 8,500 years, of Istanbul. This particular fresco is of a goat, perhaps because the goat is one of the animals that are used in the Kurban Bayram (Feast of the sacrifice). There is also an idiom in Turkey when translated means, Losing the goat, meaning to have lost your mind.

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@ Fresco Lion, Museum Of The Ancient East
“I could stay here forever, Merry Christmas,” said Venus. “This is an amazing place!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Venus. I wouldn't be surprised if the next stop is even better!” said Merry Christmas.
Fresco Lion, Museum Of The Ancient East
A fresco in the Museum of the Ancient East. In Turkish, Lion is Arslan, changing to Aslan in the last century. The lion represents courage, bravery, royalty, and chivalry.

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@ Cogs And Gears
İztuzu Beach, just west of Fethiye, is a major breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. The turtles arrive between May and October, climbing ashore at the exact site of their birth to lay a new generation of eggs. The beach sees around 300 nests dug each year.
Cogs And Gears
This display is located in the former Imperial Stables Building in Gülhane Park. The museum, Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, was opened on 25 May 2008 and displays replicas, there are no originals, of 9th and 16th-century scientific instruments of Muslim scholars.

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@ Park In Fall, Istanbul
"Hey, Merry Christmas, did you know tulips originated in Turkey? It says here in our Istanbul brochure that in order to commemorate this, thousands of tulip bulbs are planted every year throughout Istanbul and that they bloom during late March to April, adding bright splashes to the city."
"That's a lovely custom, Splat!"
Park In Fall, Istanbul
The trees are changing colour and leaves are forming a carpet. There are numerous beautiful parks in Istanbul that you can leisurely stroll around.

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@ Coast at night, Izmit.
"The tour guide has just explained that we'll cross the two continents in Istanbul by going up one side of the Galata Bridge and down the other, Merry Christmas," explained Mikey. "It connects the two sides, so pets in Istanbul can walk across starting in one continent and ending in another."
"Sounds like a great idea, Mikey!"
Coast at night, Izmit.
Izmit is in the Marmara region of Turkey, east of Istanbul at the tip of the long and narrow Gulf of Izmit of the Sea of Marmara, heading towards the east, and it is the capital of the province of Kocaeli. Izmit was known as Nicomedia in antiquity and was the capital of the Roman Empire between 286 and 324. Because of the geography of the area, the city started on the flat plains, near the ocean, and consists of the city center and the second part was built on the hills.

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@ The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
"Have you noticed that you can haggle with a vendor in the bazaar to get the price down, Adept Sanitation Juggernaut?"
"Yes, it's quite fun, Merry Christmas! Perhaps we should do that in Asda at home!"
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque—constructed between 1609 and 1616. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night the exterior of the mosque is lit with blue lights.

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@ Hazy Skies, Istanbul
Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock!
Hazy Skies, Istanbul
A bird decides to get in the picture and lends another bit of interest to this scene of a mosque under a hazy Istanbul sky.

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@ Town Center, Istanbul
“I could stay here forever, Merry Christmas,” said Choose a namebecky. “This is an amazing place!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Choose a namebecky. I wouldn't be surprised if the next stop is even better!” said Merry Christmas.
Town Center, Istanbul
The Galata Tower can be seen in the background of this scene of the Town Center, Istanbul. Currently a museum, the Galata Tower was built as a watchtower, part of the Walls Of Galata. The tower was built in 1348.

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@ Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul
İztuzu Beach, just west of Fethiye, is a major breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. The turtles arrive between May and October, climbing ashore at the exact site of their birth to lay a new generation of eggs. The beach sees around 300 nests dug each year.
Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul
Dolmabahce Palace is the largest palace in Turkey. Commissioned by Sultan Abdül Mecit in 1843. Dolmabahce Palace was the first European-style palace in Istanbul, and it is impressive. Built to hide the fact that the Ottoman Empire was in decline. Construction of this two-floor palace began in 1843 and was finished in 1856. The palace contains 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets, and 6 baths–fourteen tons of gold were used to gild the ceilings. Dolmabahce Palace has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world. The price tag was five million Ottoman gold coins, the current equivalent of 35 tons of gold.

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@ Old City Wall, Defense, Istanbul
“You know, this is really awesome, Merry Christmas!” said Shadow.
"It's very nice indeed—but you never know, the next leg of the tour might be even better!" said Merry Christmas.
Old City Wall, Defense, Istanbul
The Walls of Constantinople or The Theodosian Walls—first built by Theodosius II, 408-450 CE—were defensive walls against the Huns and the Goths. They were bounded on the land side by a moat, and ships guarded the seaward side. The Ottoman Empire broke through the walls in 1453, thus ending Constantinople. The ancient walls were torn down as the city expanded, and today there are but a few places where you can still see remnants of the old walls.

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@ Istiklal street, Istanbul
"It says in our tour guide that the city now known as Istanbul was originally called Byzantium, which is of Greek origin and refers to Byzas, the founder of the city," said BoBo. "In the year 324, it was renamed as Constantinople, and in 1930 it was changed to Istanbul."
"That's a bit easier to spell than Constantinople!" responded Merry Christmas.
"Where's the difficulty? C-O-N - that's the Con. S-T-A-N - that's the stan. T-I-N, that's the tin. O-P-L-E——"
"Okay, I take it back, Merry Christmas!"
Istiklal street, Istanbul
Historically known as The Grand Avenue of Pera, Istiklal Street is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul. This 1.4 km (0.87 mi) long street was a popular spot for Ottoman intellectuals. Today it is a mix of old and new, with shops of every description, movie houses, restaurants, bars, live music, museums. Istiklal Street has a tram system that runs up and down the avenue.

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@ Aerial View, Istanbul
"Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city," said queenielove. "But it's not, of course, the capital city. That honour belongs to—wake up, Merry Christmas, where?"
Merry Christmas, dozing happily in the coach seat, covered with a light dusting of icing sugar and with a depleted box of Turkish Delight beside her, opened her eyes and sat up with a jerk. "Ankara! And I wasn't asleep. I was just—resting my eyes."
Aerial View, Istanbul
An aerial view of Metropolitan Istanbul, where you can see some of the tallest buildings in the city. The tallest building to date–which you can see in the background— is the 369-meter (1,211-foot) Camlica telecommunications tower, which features 360 -degree views, cafes, exhibit spaces, restaurants and observation decks.

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@ View from Suleymaniye mosque to Bosphorus, Istanbul
"We'll be crossing from one continent to another today, Merry Christmas!" remarked BOB.
Merry Christmas glanced up in alarm. "Are we going to be on the coach all day? How many thousands of miles will we be going?"
"Relax, Merry Christmas!" said BOB reassuringly. "It's just that Istanbul is on two different continents. The city is separated by the Bosporus, a strait, and has a European part and an Asian part. It says here that 95% of Turkey is in Asia, and 5% is in Europe."
View from Suleymaniye mosque to Bosphorus, Istanbul
Located in the district of Fatih, the Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the most important structures from the Ottoman era. Construction of the Mosque started in 1550 and ended in 1557. Overlooking the Strait of Istanbul, The Bosphorus, which divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace.

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@ Mosque At Sunset Overlooking Bosphorus
Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock!
Mosque At Sunset Overlooking Bosphorus
As another day ends and birds make their way to their roosting places for the night, the sun sinks, leaving a splash of red across the sky.

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@ The Maiden's Tower, Istanbul
“You know, this is really awesome, Merry Christmas!” said Choose a name.
"It's very nice indeed—but you never know, the next leg of the tour might be even better!" said Merry Christmas.
The Maiden's Tower, Istanbul
On a tiny islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus stands a reconstructed tower/little castle. Thought to have been first built around 340 BCE. The structure was pulled down when the Ottoman army attacked and a wooden building was put up in replacement—which was destroyed by fire in 1719. Istanbul’s head architect rebuilt a stone version, and a glass kiosk and lead-covered dome were later added.

This is a very popular tourist destination and there are quite a few legends that have been ascribed to The Maiden's Tower. One such story is about Leandros, a young man who fell in love with a nun named Hero. Hero lived in the tower and every night, she built a fire to guide her lover to the islet. However, one night, the fire was put out by a storm and Leandros lost his way and drowned in the Bosphorus. Hero was so overwhelmed by grief and loss, she committed suicide.

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@ Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
"Hey, Merry Christmas, did you know tulips originated in Turkey? It says here in our Istanbul brochure that in order to commemorate this, thousands of tulip bulbs are planted every year throughout Istanbul and that they bloom during late March to April, adding bright splashes to the city."
"That's a lovely custom, Midnight Majesty!"
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
The Topkapi Palace, or the Seraglio, is a large museum in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. In the 15th and 16th centuries, this huge palace served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. Located in one of the oldest historical regions of Istanbul, the palace takes up around 700,000 square meters.

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@ Fransiz Sokagi (French Street), Istanbul
"Oh, Dong Dong, listen to this. Leonardo da Vinci was almost responsible for the design of the Galata Bridge in Istanbul."
"Only almost, Merry Christmas?"
"It says here that in 1502 'Sultan Beyazid II asked da Vinci to design a bridge that would span the Golden Horn. Following the three geometric principles of the pressed-bow, parabolic curve and keystone arch, da Vinci’s design would have been the world’s longest bridge at that time, but the Sultan did not approve it'.
"Do you think he kicked himself ever afterwards, Merry Christmas? It's a bit like that record company turning down the Beatles, isn't it?"
Fransiz Sokagi (French Street), Istanbul
The Alley of Cezayir Sokagi, also known as French Street or Fransiz Sokagi is in the area of the famous Istiklal Street. Known for colourful cozy cafes and live music.

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@ Quayside, Istanbul
"Have you noticed that you can haggle with a vendor in the bazaar to get the price down, Foxy Sir?"
"Yes, it's quite fun, Merry Christmas! Perhaps we should do that in Asda at home!"
Quayside, Istanbul
Located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, little boats line up along the quay waiting to take travellers from the airport to their hotels.

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@ Tophane Kasri (Palace), Istanbul
"Have you noticed that you can haggle with a vendor in the bazaar to get the price down, Mikey?"
"Yes, it's quite fun, Merry Christmas! Perhaps we should do that in Asda at home!"
Tophane Kasri (Palace), Istanbul
The word Tophane means Cannon Factory. The pavilion was built near the factory by order of Sultan Abdul Majid I in 1852. The building was designed by the English architect William James Smith. The palace was used as a home while the Sultan and his officials visited the military shipyards and the cannon factory.

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@ Night Over Istanbul
"Have you noticed that you can haggle with a vendor in the bazaar to get the price down, Tiger?"
"Yes, it's quite fun, Merry Christmas! Perhaps we should do that in Asda at home!"
Night Over Istanbul
Sleep ancient city, sleep. Formerly known as Constantinople and lying between Europe and Asia this is the largest city in Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous city in Europe.

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@ Galata Tower, evening. Istanbul
Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock!
Galata Tower, evening. Istanbul
As dusk falls you can see the Galata Tower in the center of the photograph. Now the Galata Kulesi Museum, this tower was once a watchtower to defend the city. Built in 1348, it was once the tallest structure in Constantinople.

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@ Topkapi Tower, Istanbul, with Turkish flag
"We'll be crossing from one continent to another today, Merry Christmas!" remarked Salem.
Merry Christmas glanced up in alarm. "Are we going to be on the coach all day? How many thousands of miles will we be going?"
"Relax, Merry Christmas!" said Salem reassuringly. "It's just that Istanbul is on two different continents. The city is separated by the Bosporus, a strait, and has a European part and an Asian part. It says here that 95% of Turkey is in Asia, and 5% is in Europe."
Topkapi Tower, Istanbul, with Turkish flag
The Topkapi Palace Museum, housing the imperial collections of the Ottoman Empire, was once the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans, for over 400 years.

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@ Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul
"Have you noticed that you can haggle with a vendor in the bazaar to get the price down, Moo?"
"Yes, it's quite fun, Merry Christmas! Perhaps we should do that in Asda at home!"
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul
The Blue Mosque or formally known as The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is an Ottoman historical mosque created between 1609 and 1616. This is a very active tourist destination as well as a functioning Mosque.

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@ Istanbul, Mosque, Sunset
As Merry Christmas's tour of "Turkey: Marmara 1" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Grey Mountains, Rounded And Steep
Jagged, steep, rounded, tree-filled or bare, snow-covered or subject to torrential rains—mountains are an outstanding feature on the landscape, they draw the eye, they inspire artists and climbers. Mountains affect the weather and can enclose an area of land creating valleys that are rich agricultural areas. Poems are written about mountains. Mountains are a haven for eagles and many forms of wildlife.

These marvellous mountain decorations will be perfect in your art slides whether you are making a mountain retreat for yourself or a home for your pets. Perhaps you have a pet who has always dreamed of going on a climbing expedition and making it to the top of the highest mountain. Used singly as a point of interest, or in multiples to create a whole mountain range, let your imagination soar.
Istanbul, Mosque, Sunset
As the setting sun paints the sky in shades of red and yellow, the silhouette of a Mosque in Istanbul stands as a centerpiece in this contemplative view of Istanbul.
Merry Christmas has completed her tour of "Turkey: Marmara 1"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour Scandinavia!