Istanbul

 I suppose I should add one post about Istanbul. Jerusalem was overpowering in comparison, but I think I didn't have enough time to truly appreciate the city. 

That said, they speak no English there unlike in Jerusalem where everyone is fluent or nearly so. 

We had a hard time getting to our hotel due to the communication issues. But we made it and tried to sleep and shower before heading out. 

The streets were very slanted.

There were cats everywhere and dogs. Apparently, the dogs are even tagged and vaccinated by the government. The cats are too numerous for that but they are well-fed. They went about their business like members of society.

We saw the Blue Mosque.

And the Hagia Sophia.

We prayed inside the Hagia Sophia.

The steps are so worn, you can see the indentation in the stone.

Wash up area

Those white banners are covering the faces of the angels and Mary and maybe Jesus that were painted by the Christians as Muslims do not have faces inside their mosques. The Hagia Sophia has been through several iterations of church, mosque, and museum. It is currently being used as a mosque.

Aqueduct remains? There was a sign and now I do not remember.

Beautiful and colorful

They love fruit in that side of the world.

Cats.

Water for the cats and dogs.

Hot soup and tea at the end of a cold day.

Writing postcards before bed.

The standard breakfast in Istanbul and in Jerusalem.

And then we were off to Jerusalem. 

Istanbul, I will have to do you justice, next time.