The Palace and the Harem.
On our last day in Istanbul we decided to visit Topkapi Palace - which was where the Sultans lived during the Ottoman Empire...and boy, did those guys know how to live! First of all, you got to hand it to the Turks for having Harems in their Palaces. The Ottoman Muslims had a lot of rules...but then again, they also knew how to relax! Secondly (besides the enviable lifestyle) the architecture and interiors are magnificent...with every area more spectacular, more opulent and richer in patterns and details than the one before it. The view from the balconies is also pretty amazing...overlooking the water and the city's skyline all around. We spent about two hours wandering around the grounds...and then we got tired of seeing so much beautiful stuff...and we went for a walk on the other side of town, to purchase a bit of Turkish Delight to bring back home (Stacy is pretty fond of the stuff...and we thought she'd like some straight from Istanbul's Spice Market).
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