Another day in Istanbul, and another day of long walks, ferry trips, trams, mosques, and ruins. Today, I also added a ride on a cable car, exploration of a Byzantine cistern, and a trip to a contemporary art museum.
I’m pretty wiped out right now, so don’t have much energy for writing, so I’ll just skip to the photos (click to enlarge).

The Basilica Cistern, pictured here, was built around the same time as Hagia Sophia, around 532. Its columns were reused from a variety of ruins in the area. Carp still occupy the waters.

I thought that I might pick up a few spices in the spice market, but I think I'll have to go back when it's not so crowded.

I found a tiny little kebab place, staffed by a friendly waiter, and a more friendly cook. This was the salad that they gave me. It was a spicy sauce to be put on bread that was more similar to salsa than salad.

This simple meal was one of the best that I've had on this trip. Bulgar, lamb, peppers, onions, fennel, lettuce, and tomato. I put a bit of everything on the pita, added a little of the salad, and rolled it up for my dining enjoyment. It was cheap, too.

The friendly cook, who was laboring over hot coals, insisted on taking my picture enjoying the meal that he prepared.

i hopped off the Golden Horn ferry at the last stop, and walked about a mile and a half to get to SantralIstanbul, one of the city's contemporary art museum. I discovered a great exhibit on 20th Century Turkish art in the simple, but elegant museum, which is housed in a former power plant.

After the museum, I walked back the mile and half to the ferry stop, and then waited 45 minutes to take this gondola up a neighboring cemetery hill. The wait was not worth the trip, especially since at the top, I discovered that there was no wait to go down. I would have happily walked up the puny hill, and taken the gondola down for the experience.

The Eyup Sultan Mosque is an important pilgrimage site, and the plaza out front was packed with worshipers.

I'm sure that most of the houses around here have panoramic views, but on the ground, it's nice to get a brief glimpse out to the Golden Horn.

Not a bad spot to dock a boat, this was where I awaited my ferry to take me back down towards the center of the city.