R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 123

54 Days at Sea — Sochi, Russia

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Sochi 2014 Olympics

Two days and about 600 miles/965 kilometers out of Istanbul, on April 19th, we found ourselves in Sochi, Russia, which was at the time gearing up to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. It was an interesting, but hardly inspiring, destination. In order to even set foot off the M.S. Prinsendam, we had to be in the company of a tour guide.

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Sochi

One of the first places we visited was the Saint Michael’s Cathedral. Saint Michaels’ is the oldest Eastern Orthodox church in Sochi...

Fun Photo Friday — 54 Days at Sea; Last look at Istanbul

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Istanbul Tulips

Once last look at Istanbul before heading into the Black Sea:

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; More sights along the Bosporus and the Grand Bazaar

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MS Prinsendam in Istanbul

The cruise tours are located just east of the Galata Bridge near the south end of the bridge, within just a few minutes walk.

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Galata Bridge

We cruised northward up the Bosporus to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, also called the Second Bosporus Bridge, as it is north of the First/Bosporus/15 July Martyrs Bridge. Farther north, beyond where our Bosporus cruise would go this day, is yet a third suspension bridge. Beyond that is the Black Sea, where MS Prinsendam would h...

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; Galata Bridge, Golden Horn, and Lunch

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Galata Bridge fishing

Ursula and I had visited Istanbul before, and the Galata Bridge was a highlight. Needless to say, we were definitely going back this time, and not just for the views of fishermen lining the railing. This bridge does more than just connect Istanbul across the Golden Horn; it’s also home to some great places for fresh catch lunch. Beneath the roadway supported by the Galata are restaurants and cafés.

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Galata Bridge restaurants

Many of those restaurants offer an affordable l...

Fun Photo Friday — 54 Days at Sea; Istanbul Images

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Blue Skies above the Blue Mosque

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; Basilica Cistern

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Basilica Cistern

In the classic James Bond film  From Russia With Love (second entry in the franchise series, United Artists, 1963), there is a scene in which the head of Station T (Ali Kerim Bey played by Pedro Armendáriz) and Bond take a boat ride along underground aqueducts beneath Istanbul. What you may not realize is that this waterway actually exists, and that it is indeed beneath the streets of Istanbul. Welcome to the eerie yet fascinating Basilica Cistern.

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Basilica Cistern

The Basili...

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; Inside Hagia Sophia

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Hagia Sophia

Last Wednesday I introduced you to the incredible Hagia Sophia and gave you a little on its history. This church-turned-mosque-turned museum is a blend of both Christianity and Islam, as you’ll see in the photo gallery/slide show below. Click on any image enlarge and scroll through the tour:

Fun Photo Friday — Istanbul Color

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Food Boat

Here are today’s first of three Istanbul-themed Fun Photo Friday offerings:

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Istanbul Park

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Istanbul Flowers

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Tulips and More

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Fishing off Galata Bridge

54 Days at Sea — Istanbul; Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

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Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed “Blue” Mosque is an incredibly large and complex structure, especially when one considers that it was built in the early 17th Century. Up to 10,000 worshipers can gather under its multi-domed roof.

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Blue Mosque

And note the extensive use of early 17th Century electric lighting throughout! Just kidding. That stuff wasn’t added until a little while later, I’m sure.

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Blue Mosque

We’re about to leave behind the Blue Mosque for a building with an even more impressive his...

54 Days at Sea — Arriving Istanbul

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Istanbul — Blue Mosque

MS Prindendam arrived to the port of Istanbul early in the morning of April 16. Here we would overnight, giving us two full days to visit one of my favorite cities. Ursula and I had spent some time here several years before, but not by cruise ship and before digital photography displaced analog. So, we knew where we wanted to go, and what we wanted to photographically capture.

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Istanbul

The mosques of Istanbul are some of the most impressive and historically significant...