Understanding the connections between sea of Marmara, Bosphorus, Black sea and Byzantine, Ottomans, modern times whole cruising through this marvellous natural wonder

A 20 year old king built a fort on the narrowest point of the Bosphorus channel. This led to control of a vital trade route and shifted the power structure of this whole region. As we walked up this fortress on a quiet afternoon many historic currents going back thousands of years came through

Watching for gardens, birds, came across an amphitheatre . The European and Anatolian side have interesting palaces, homes, mosques. As we crossed the Albanian quarters, the history of the Balkans after the fall of Constantinople came alive in the buildings. Some houses are 300 years and even before.

Many things changed when Turkey became a republic in 1923. Now 100 years on, the boundaries drawn after world war 1 are being redrawn.

RUMELI FORT.built by Mehmet 11. Nice sea breeze and views, carrying many currents of centuries

As we returned to the spice market,walked back to Sultanahmet after this little geography and history orientation, the trams, calls of prayer and mosaics mafe a little bit more sense.