#1 in Istanbul

My #1 favourite place in Istanbul is definitely Haghia Sophia - a church of such immense scale that it was the largest building in the world for nearly 1000 years. It started life as a Catholic church in 537, became a mosque after the conquest of Constantinope by the Ottomans in 1453, and has been a museum since 1935.

Haghia Sophia lived up to my expectations and then some. I was in awe. So was Steve. I can't imagine the impact the building would have had on a person in the Middle Ages. No photo can do it justice but here are some anyway.

Steve's favourite mosaic artwork was the one of an Emperor sucking up to the Catholic church by handing over a big sack of money and collecting his 'papers of tax exemption'.  Classic. Good to know nothing has changed in 1500 years!

Pam took us to the Little Hagia Sophia mosque, which was built just prior to Hagia Sophia by the same architects. It has recently been restored and it is breathtakingly beautiful inside. Bright vivid blue mosaics on a bright white background. Gorgeous!

Here's a pic of me doing my Muslim woman impersonation...