Our trip from Singapore to Istanbul included a brief stop in Dubai and a clear flight over Bagdad, and near Mosul and Kirkuk, then over snowy mountains of eastern Turkey to Istanbul. We arrived at 6PM (11PM Singapore time) and after a not great meal, went to bed. The next morning, Feb. 11, on the other hand, we had a great breakfast at the hotel, then found our way via subway and tram to the Haghia Sophia church/museum where we spent a fascinating several hours. A massive domed structure, the interior space is massive, old frescos, partly damaged, after the Ottoman capture of Constantinople it became a mosque, then with the birth of the Turkish republic it became a museum. Some indication of the size and mixture of Christian-Muslim history may be suggested by the photos.
Today (Feb. 12), we spent in our neighborhood of Beyoglu, finding our way around and doing a little shopping. We find it rather hard to locate a specific store or restaurant, but perseverance pays off and the search itself is of interest. This neighborhood is a good location for us. We cannot use wifi in our room, but there are 2 computers available in the hotel. Yesterday was the fall of Mubarak, and for a short time western newspapers were not available on line, but this morning they were. Today we came upon a demonstration on the main shopping street, people with signs and speeches, and a group of police watching with guns and shields. I have no specific information about it.
We enjoy Istanbul very much so far. Fascinating city, very interesting food. Tomorrow we plan a boat trip on the Bosphorus, probably taking all day.