Istanbul (not Constantinople)

To summarize my feelings about Istanbul: I am glad I experienced it, especially the significant historical area...but equally as glad that it was a work-funded trip and I didn't waste a vacation on it.

We didn't have much time for sightseeing, but our team took a half day and visited the "Blue" Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The Blue Mosque is adjacent to the area that was the Hippodrome when Constantinople was the center of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, which makes for an interesting blend of history and culture. I appreciate the fact that this place was home to civilized culture hundreds of years before our country was "discovered". Pictures here:

Istanbul

My hotel was probably very nice at one time, but it was borderline gross (see TripAdvisor review). I didn't even realize how stressed that made me until I got settled into my hotel here in Prague. I also didn't realize how gross the Istanbul hotel was, until I got settled here in Prague and realized that my hair and clothes stunk from Istanbul. Ew!