Where East meets West

 After finishing at the Blue Mosque we walked across the road to the Hagia Sofia, perhaps the most significant feature on the city's skyline.


Now a museum, the Hagia Sofia has been around since the 6th century (537 to be exact). The grand dome and four minarets point skywards and the interior is a modest introduction to the grandeur within.

 Our photos don't do it justice but this was unquestionably the most impressive peace of architecture we had been in during our travels.

 The history buried, and slowly being excavated, behind these walls is incredible. Istanbul is a city where East meets West and Hagia Sofia has been the meeting point of Christianity and Islam throughout the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.

Now a museum it represents the clash between religion and culture.

 The 9th century mosaics emerging are incredible. Also we ran into the American guy who bailed us out at the airport during our visa fiasco which was also incredible!

 After we left the museum we strolled down to the river. Even more incredible than the Hagia Sofia was that a bird flying overhead managed to miss both myself and Raya who was asleep in the Ergo and poo straight onto Nick.