Istanbul: The End of the Road

Istanbul is the end of the road – the Silk Road namely – the point on the map where the East and West come to a head: symbolically, geographically and, in many ways, ideologically. It’s situated on the Bosphorus strait, which stretches between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, separating the continents of Asia and Europe. Byzantine and Ottoman remnants are woven into an already colorful culture. As you wander the streets, you’ll find old-world Turkish taverns, massive movie theaters, charming tea shops, lively fish markets, booming shipyards and all sorts of special nooks.

* Okay, some of those photos are from further down on the Lykia coast near Antalya. You can probably guess which ones. I added them for a dash of color.