Spending the afternoon with sailing in a legendary strait like the Bosphorus, would be an extraordinary thing for foreign tourists like me. Moreover, in addition to stories and many stories about the two kingdoms that once triumphed in this land, the Bosphorus has always been a must-visit place for both domestic and foreign travelers.
That afternoon, I just set foot in turkey, we arrived at the airport at 02.00 pm and were immediately picked up by our tour guide at the airport. Our guide was named Hamdullah, or he asked us to call him Habib.
From the airport, Habib immediately instructed us in the car and took us to the city of Istanbul.
First, Habib introduced himself and explained our itinerary during our nine day trip in Turkey.
My bus arrived at the mouth of the Golden Horn when the sun on the western horizon had almost touched the surface of the Bosphorus.
Habib immediately guided us to a boat that was fully booked for my group.
It's my first time in Turkey. The freezing cold air of the Bosphorus made the hairs on my neck stand up. I pulled up my coat and took a seat on the bench on the upper deck.
My little knowledge of the Bosphorus strait is only about the legend of the Bosphorus strait because it connects two continents: Asia and Europe. The rest, I never found out that on the side of the Bosphorus there are so many buildings with amazingly beautiful architecture.
Because of the beautiful landscape of the cities around the Bosphorus, it was like seeing a painting mounted on the walls of a house rather than a reality.
Bosphorus Bridge
Since the first time I entered this, I saw the bosphorus bridge that spans across the strait and connects the Asian part of Turkey and the European part of Turkey.
From the airport to here, I crossed the bridge, Habib explained that the bridge was a brilliant work that could make the distance from Turkey to Asia and Turkey to Europe reachable in six minutes at normal speed.
The Bosphorus Bridge is in the city of Ortakoy for the European part of Turkey and in the Asian part it is in the city of Anatolia. The Bosphorus Bridge is also known as Bogaziu Koprusu. It has a length of 1,540 meters and a width of 3,340 meters, Habib Said
Ciragan Palace
This palace is on the left side as my ship is moving. Habib explained to us that the Ciragan Palace was a relic of the Ottoman Empire. This magnificent building with many windows has been converted into a hotel managed by the Kempinski hotel chain. I was immediately amazed and guessed how expensive it would be if I wanted to stay at the former palace hotel. Kempinski is definitely not just any hotel. All hotels in the Kempinki chain always have amazing facilities. The Ciragan Palace building is on the Turkish side of Europe.
Ortakoy Mosque
When viewed from the boat, the Ortakoy mosque looks like a floating mosque in the middle of the strait. Located in the Besiktas area, Istanbul Ortakoy mosque is always crowded with visitors for worship or just visiting to see the architectural beauty of the building.
Habib explained to us that the Ortakoy mosque is also called the romantic mosque because the dome of the mosque is pink. In addition, its very sweet location on the edge of the Bosphorus strait makes the impression of the romance of this mosque even more attached.
The walls of the Ortakoy Mosque are made of ivory yellow marble. The mosque is open to visitors from 08.00 am to 06.00 pm.
Galata Bridge
Habib introduced us to the Galata bridge. The magnificent bridge where the people along the bridge are busy fishing for the fresh and sweet Bosphorus fish. Then, under the bridge lined the restaurants during the day until the evening and turned into a pub at night. Galata Bridge is very beautiful to see in the middle of the Bosphorus like this.
Mosque silhouettes
Hagia sophia, the Suultan Ahmet Mosque or also known as the Blue Mosque can be seen in the distance on the shores of the Bosphorus. The high pillars and the large kbah make these two mosques still look magnificent even from a distance. Near the port of Galata, the Semsi Pasa mosque is also proud. The architecture of the Ottoman Empire that never fails to enchant everyone who sees it. Coupled with the low-flying seagulls and the golden-coloured sky, the afternoon on the Bosphorus is unforgettable.
Galatasaray University
Another no less magnificent building is Galatasaray University, referred to as a prestigious university, Galatasaray Universiti was originally a palace called the Feriye Palace. Habib informed us that the University was active in 1992. Galatasaray University is located in Ortakoy, Besiktas, Istanbul.
Without realizing it the sky was getting darker and the call to prayer from a distance was heard. The city lights were starting to look lit, our ship was pulling over.
Thank you for listening to my journey across the Bosphorus for an hour. Look forward to the next stories.
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