View of Hagia Sofia from the Blue Mosque
Claire and I in front of the Blue Mosque
Once back above ground we wandered through a beautiful garden toward the Blue Mosque - built as a true Islamic response to the Hagia Sofia centuries later. Unfortunately the mosque was closed for prayers so we continued on to the Hippodrome. WHile non of the original race track is left this is where chariot races used to take place. Now it is a park housing a fountain (given by Germany just before World War 1) and three oblesks: an Egyptian (stolen from a tomb), one given as a gift from Greece, and one dedicated to Constantine. Across the Hippodrome from the Blue Mosque is the Turkish and Islamic Museum of Art, home to a nice collection of artifacts and tons of gorgeous Turkish rugs. By the time we completed the museaum prayer was over and we were able to visit the BLue Mosque - which although brilliant from the outside, pales in complarison to Hagia Sofia.
Egyptian Oblesk - sorry it takes too long to rotate the photos :)
Blue Mosque with all six minarettes visible (from the the museum), Egyptian Oblesk in foreground
Claire and I inside the Blue Mosque
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