Return to Turkey: Goodbye Istanbul – The Director’s Cut

It's my last day in Istanbul, so I cram as much into my remaining hours as I possibly can.

Return to Turkey: Bursa’s Museums – The Director’s Cut

nterspersed between the tombs and mosques of Bursa are several interesting museums, which I crammed all into a single day. I am told by others that I cover an insane amount of ground...

Return to Turkey: Bursa’s Mosques and Tombs – The Director’s Cut

The magnificent Ulu Camii was built in 1399, when, to satisfy a promise to construct 20 mosques, Yildirim Bayazid chose instead to build a single mosque with 20 domes and minarets.

Return to Turkey: Chora Church – The Director’s Cut

The next day, I look for the Chora Church, which Baha had suggested the last time I was here...

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

I fill to the gills every moment of my final hours in Istanbul ...

Crossroads Tour: A Palace Museum – The Director’s Cut

I spent my last day at the Ibrahim Pasa Palace, an Ottoman palace that houses the Islamic Art and Ethnology Museum.

Crossroads Tour: A Jade Sea and a Surrey – The Director’s Cut

I'm off to the Kabatas Ferry, the Sea of Marmara and a day at the Princes Islands.

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: A Holy Place – The Director’s Cut

A short ferry ride crisscrosses the Bosphorus to a bay near the end, where I get off the ferry and find a city on top of a cemetery...