SO - in a nutshell - today was all about The Topkapi Palace (where the Ottoman Emperors lived) and The Blue Mosque (aka Sultan Ahmet Mosque).
Both are SO huge that we needed the whole day to get round them.
Today, along with our driver Arif, we got a guide -- a lovely lady called Aysegul -- who knows EVERYTHING about Istanbul & her history.
We started at The Topkapi Palace ... at 0900 ...
It's made up of 4 Courtyards ... the first has ...
a converted Church that now holds concerts ...
1st friend of the day 
needed a
scruff!
lovely start to the tour!
We then entered the second courtyard ... 
Home to the Harem or Forbidden Place ... 500 women (concubines, favourite ladies, 4 wives and mother), eunuchs and 1 Sultan! 
Only the Sultan, his mother and the favourites had their own apartments. The rest shared dormitories.
This was the Sultan's bath ....
and toilet! 
Another friend!
After lunch in the 4th courtyard we saw the wonderful Bosphorus Strait!
Then it was over to The Blue Mosque - one of the "big" two in Istanbul ... 
We managed to get inside .... 
and filmed actually within the mosque itself. The Blue Mosque has 6 minarets ... most have 1, 2 or 4 ... 
It's blue because of the 26,000 blue tiles on the roof and walls. 
The ceilings are amazing!
Aya Sofia - Holy Wisdom (now a museum ... was a Church and then a Mosque) 
The Blue Mosque ...A long day ... so pleased it's over. Will stay in and order room service ...
Song of the Day: Sign of the Times - The Belle Stars
Weather: Cold .. but bright!
