Friday, June 6, 2014

Visiting Istanbul [Part 3/3]: A Cruise along the Bosporus

We have come to the end of our Istanbul series. In this last part you will be taken along on a cruise along the Bosporus. It's the world's narrowest strait used for international navigation and the Bosporus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.

click on the images for a bigger view


The Bosporus remains strategically important. It is a major sea access route for Russia and Ukraine. Control over it has been an objective of a number of hostilities in modern history, notably the Russo–Turkish War, 1877–1878, as well as of the attack of the Allied Powers on the Dardanelles during the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli in the course of World War I.


The site of Dolmabahce in the image below, was originally a bay on the Bosporus which was used for the anchorage of the Ottoman fleet. The area was reclaimed gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans.








The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also known as the Second Bosphorus Bridge, once completed in 1988, was the 5th longest suspension bridge span in the world; today it is the 19th. The highway bridge has four lanes for vehicular traffic plus one emergency lane in each direction.





We end the cruise with a shot of the Rumelihisari (also known as Rumelian Castle and Roumeli Hissar Castle). It is a fortress located in the Sarıyer district. It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II between 1451 and 1452, before he conquered Constantinople. The three great towers were named after three of Mehmed II's viziers, Sadrazam Çandarlı Halil Pasha, who built the big tower next to the gate, Zağanos Pasha, who built the south tower, and Sarıca Pasha, who built the north tower.


The End

Thank you for coming along. I hope you enjoyed this little detour from my photography. I will be back on Sunday with a new post. Tomorrow I'm taking a break since it's my birthday. Have a great weekend everybody!

21 comments:

  1. The beauty of your tour is just magnificent: the waters, the skies, the architecture, and the Views! Wonderful series, Mersad. Oh and have a wonderful birthday!!!

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    1. Thanks Mona for your well wishes. :)

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  2. I have enjoyed this series. I have been to Istanbul but didn't get ashore to see any of it. It is stunning and I like the Turkish people. I bet you wish you had gone along.

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    1. I visited Istanbul before, and actually went on this cruise as well, so I do know what it is like. Of course, I wouldn't have minded a refresher. :)

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  3. Wonderful, fascinating posts.
    Have a Happy Birthday, Mersad!

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  4. A great post and superb captures as always, Mersad!! I do love the water shots! Have a great weekend and a very Happy Birthday!!

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  5. It's always a pleasure to come on these journeys with you Mersad :) Many happy returns, enjoy your birthday.

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  6. i like that last shot with the towers and wall!

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  7. They are all wonderful. Thanks for the tour. Have a great birthday!

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  8. It seems like a marvelous place to visit. Thanks, Mersad, and happy birthday! Enjoy YOUR day!

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  9. Wunderschöne Bilder!

    Die sehr schöne Architektur ist mir gut bekannt und man kann sie auf Deinen Bildern wieder erkennen. Traumhafte Farben!

    Ein schönes Wochende wünscht Senna

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  10. Sretan Rodjendan!!! Volim posjecivati tvoj blog uvijek, ali posebno kada su objavljene fotke iz nase zemlje!

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  11. This must have been a most enjoyable trip. Istanbul is somewhere on my bucket list. It didn't make the list for this year, but who knows about 2015?

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  12. Beautiful! Love these water shots! The container ship is very impressive.

    Happy Birthday, Mersad! Enjoy!

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  13. It's interesting to see the mix of new and old architecture in many of these pictures.

    Happy Birthday too by the way!

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  14. I adore boats of any kind, Mersad, they enable us to see places which could otherwise remain unseen. Wishing you a happy birthday.

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  15. Fantastic quality in detail in your photos as usual, Mersad!

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  16. There is such a blend of ancient and modern in this city. I'd love the opportunity to visit someday.

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  17. I hope this strategic port is not affected by any of our modern history right now! It's lovely. You shared some gorgeous images! Oh, you had a birthday??? I just noticed on the previous comment. Sorry I am late, but happy birthday!

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  18. I am always awed by your sharp and vivid photos. Are these all handheld shots? And is that you with your sister or gf? Beautiful and handsome

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  19. I always enjoy going on a journey with you. You not only give a great visual tour, but you also provide interesting facts. Happy Birthday, my friend, Mersad.

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