Istanbul is home to 15 million people and more than 135 mosques.  The biggest thrill for me, was hearing the call to prayer over the minarets...it's a beautiful, soulful prayer that echoes throughout the city. And an additional fact, that I'd looooong forgotten since learning in grammar school, Istanbul is the only city in the world that stretches two continents, where Europe meets Asia. The Bosphorus (or Istanbul Strait) separates the two.

Some of the things we saw in Istanbul were: the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Church, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and a carpet weaving demonstration.  Istanbul is a mix of people, bustling city and stellar Mosques.  Wheeling and dealing is part of the culture here, so when buying something, you never pay the price marked.  Well, I suppose you COULD pay the price marked, but half the fun is seeing how low you can go!

 

Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul not Constantinople, been a long time gone

Old Constantinople's still has Turkish delight, on a moonlight night

Evr'y gal in Constantinople is a Miss-stanbul, not Constantinople

So if you've date in Constantinople, she'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam

Why they changed it, I can't say (People just liked it better that way)

Take me back to Constantinople

No, you can't go back to Constantinople, now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks'

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