Day 15- Hosca Kal Istanbul!

We are flying to Greece today at 7:15 pm local time (12:15 EST) and arriving around 9ish (2ish EST)! Before saying goodbye to Turkey for good, we all got a chance to roam around the city in small groups to some sights we wanted to see one more time. Here are some of the highlights.

After a bit of a walk, we found the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, not far from the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia. It was built between 1550 and 1557, containing the religious prayer area, a hospital, abolition fountain, a Turkish bath, and a hospice center on the grounds. In 1660 the building was destroyed by fire but was immediately restored. This process was again completed in 1956 to touch up the minarets and inner dome. Here are some of the photos of this truely magnificent building.

This came from the entrance door, all of which was hand carved and hand painted. Just gorgeous!

A photo of the new city from the old.

Election season is underway in Turkey as voters will head to the polls to vote for their representatives in Turkey's version of the Senate and for president. The Blue Mosque is in the background behind the campaign banners.

Arguably my favorite picture of the trip so far! On the left is the Hagia Sophia, on the right is the Blue Mosque, and in the middle is the fountain directly between the two.

If there is WiFi in the airport, expect some candid shots of all of us from our first two weeks of our trip. Otherwise, ECGT signing off!

It's official!!! Greece, EC has arrived!!!!

What a look at the Acropolis just a block from the hotel! The old and new collide!