On my first full day, after visiting the two famous mosques, I went to the Topkapi Palace, seat of the great Ottoman Empire for centuries. The palace is vast, courtyards, buildings, and many exhibits.
This first batch shows the main gate, a map of the city, one of the many cats, some of many old trees, part of the Harem, and some of the ruin relics outside one of the gates, etc…
In addition to general luxuriant splendor of the place, there are separate exhibits featuring clothing & carpets, weapons & armaments, clocks & gadgetry, ceramics & kitchen stuff, jewelry & other imperial bling. Here is a meagre sampling…
There were a couple of terraces featuring spectacular views of the city. Can you see the Camlica Tower and the Bosphorus Bridge connecting Europe & Asia (and one shot of just part of one courtyard)?
Jewelry and jewelry encrusted everything (swords, guns, boxes, & books)…
Palatial miscellany: rooms in the harem, a library, weaponry, and more splendiferousishness…
At the end of a long day, I returned to my room upgrade – the penthouse on the terrace level. That went well with the spectacular sunset, glowing clouds, and ubiquitous seagulls…
Also from the terrace at night: the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia alight (and my kinda trike)…
That’ll do for now. Let’s see what the rest of the day brings…