Our first stay in Istanbul lasted one week, and during that time we attempted to plan the rest of our stay here. We also took plenty of time to do some exploring. It's easy to get lost in this huge city (it's split between two continents, even!) but with a little landmark recognition, trial and error wandering, and helpful Turkish people who are good at exaggerated hand motions, I was able to get a pretty good feel for this vibrant city. While in Istanbul Round 1, I:
Wandered the streets, people watching and observing daily life.
Made friends with stray dogs.
Browsed the colorful night markets.
Was silly in an art museum.
Learned that stray cats like to stay warm by becoming part of window displays.
Found the Galata Tower.
Crossed the Golden Horn via the Galata Bridge.
Ate delicious food.
Saw the Hagia Sophia.
Was awed by the interior of the Blue Mosque.
And Istanbul was just our first stop! To be continued...