We visited the Galata Tower. Built by the traders of Genoa when they were in charge and the place was called – Galata. The apex of their fortifications. The Ottomans used it to house prisoners working in the shipyards. And legend has it in the 1600s someone launched himself off it using artificial wings to fly across the Bosphorous. Well worth the queue (not too long, and moved reasonably quickly) and the crowds (really well behaved – sounds a bit school marmish but it’s true!) and the price (despite Lonely Planet saying it was too dear). It was really well organised in a very unobtrusive way. We went up in lifts, which I don’t like, but only small numbers of people entered at a time, and they were quick. Up the top you had to walk up some wooden stairs and then out on to a pretty thin ledge still with original marble tiling. The views were well and truly worth it. Here are a few – all taken with my iPad (love my iPad!) As you can see it was a hot, sunny day.
What a vibrant, bustling place is Istanbul!
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