We started out day with a cruise on the Bosporus strait  with Europe on 1 side and Asia on the other

Cruises down to the 2nd of 3 bridges and back

We visited the spice bazaar or Egyptian market for a taste of these shopping areas.    Instituted by the sultan as a way to pay for the mosques, each is associate with a mosque complex.   Each sultan built a more elaborate mosque than the last,  36 of these.   Not to be outdone,  Erdogan built the newest and largest in 2019,  which allows 63,000 for worship.

We visited the area is the ancient hippodrome, where chariot races were held in Roman times.   Now it is the central area of old Istanbul

The Blue Mosque, named for the tiles in the ladies gallery,  was just ending noon prayers,  so we were able to visit today.   It is on 1 side of the hippodrome. 

After a rest,  we visited the Grand bazaar