Day 7: Shtambul! - the Basilica Cistern

Black Sea Navigation: BULGARIA: [Nesebar] [Varna] ROMANIA: [Constanţa]
TURKEY: [Sinop] [Bodrum] [Istanbul: Basilica Cistern] [Istanbul: Topkapi] [Istanbul: Haigha Sophia]
GREECE: [Limnos] [Meteora] [Thira] [Athens: Acropolis and Plaka] [Acropolis Museum Highlights]

The first thing we saw in Istanbul was the Basilica Cistern, apparently one of hundreds underneath the city.  My expectations were low, but it turned out to be very cool - cavernous and hauntingly lit.  And yes, it also provided a welcome break from the outside temperatures.

I used the "illustration" effect on my new camera for these three shots:

Line of sight down a row of columns

Fish swim in the low waters of the the cistern.

Medusa head #1

The elder girl, in particular, has gotten into the legend of Medusa (a side effect of the Rick Riordan stories, I think) - she is actually planning to dress up as Medusa for Hallowe'en this year.

Medusa head #2 

"Hen's Eye" column

Before we left the Cistern, I resolved to read the girls a short story by C.S. Lewis, "Forms of Things Unknown," from the collection The Dark Tower and Other Stories.

Black Sea Navigation: BULGARIA: [Nesebar] [Varna] ROMANIA: [Constanţa]
TURKEY: [Sinop] [Bodrum] [Istanbul: Basilica Cistern] [Istanbul: Topkapi] [Istanbul: Haigha Sophia]
GREECE: [Limnos] [Meteora] [Thira] [Athens: Acropolis and Plaka] [Acropolis Museum Highlights]