Crossroads Tour: Ayasofya – The Director’s Cut

This Ayasofya is among the oldest religious sites in the world, dating to 537 AD. It is also among the most important examples of Byzantine architecture still standing.

Crossroads Tour: a Hamami, a Camii, a Lost Taxi – The Director’s Cut

As Chief Architect, Mimar Sinan designed and restored 477 buildings and public works. The Suleyman Camii is regarded as one of his greatest achievements.

Crossroads Tour: The Topkapi Palace – The Director’s Cut

The Topkapi Palace, built between 1460-78, is a walled complex covering 700,000 square meters, comprised of three courtyards, several gardens and all the buildings required for a royal administrative city.

Crossroads Tour: Sleepless in the Sultanahmet – The Director’s Cut

The weather is overcast, like my mood. I'm mentally fatigued. I cannot get onto the WIFI. Maybe Istanbul is too challenging for me. Maybe I need to return home...

Crossroads Tour: The Grand Bazaar – The Director’s Cut

The Grand Bazaar is as large and noisy as you would expect a 5,000 store shopping mall to be. Rick Steves says to spend about 2 hours here, which is about as much time as a human has before their retinas start to melt.

Crossroads Tour: A Final Day in Florence – The Director’s Cut

In the early AM. another hotel guest plays Spanish guitar just outside my door. There are worse ways to wake up on a Sunday morning...

Crossroads Tour: Chapel of the Magi – The Director’s Cut

It's one of my favorite Renaissance works for its subject mater and intricate detail, and I never dreamed to see it outside of an art book. And yet, here I am...