Istanbul has a history of 1000 years, with a long history and rich colors. I wandered in the historical sites of the old city, as if I heard the drums of the ancient Greeks and the war of the Ottoman army. And the iron hoof of the crusaders. Istanbul, located at the eastern end of the Balkan Peninsula, is the end of the ancient Silk Road. Because of its strategic position, it has always been a battleground for military strategists. In the 6th century BC, the Greeks built a city here and named it Byzantium. In the following hundreds of years, it has experienced countless dynasties and changed its name several times. Istanbul became the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1457.
Today, Istanbul has become an international metropolis that blends the cultures of all ethnic groups. In the evening, looking from galata, which stands in some parts of Asia, the towering minarets of mosques are shining in the sunshine, filled with strong Islamic flavor, and Muslims flock to mosques like a flood in the warm sea breeze. However, Orthodox, Catholic and Armenian churches can also be seen everywhere, which shows that Turks are tolerant of religion.
There are no fewer than 450 mosques in Istanbul. The most famous is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Built in 16 16, it is also a famous "blue mosque". Its six spires look like a castle in Sydney's paradise from a distance.
Istanbul is surrounded by water, and ferries are the main means of transportation for people. For tourists, even if they don't know where to go, taking the ferry is a kind of enjoyment and cheap. Most Turks can speak fluent English, and good-hearted people are willing to help dizzy tourists and make you feel at home.
In the downtown area, there is a big covered market that is rare in the world, with 4,000 shops, 20 inns and 65 alleys. In the meantime, you can smell all kinds of attractive spices, teas, perfumes and fruits.
The most attractive thing about the big market is people's cordial and hospitable attitude. No one will force you to buy things, and the atmosphere is very harmonious. Everyone here seems to have enough time to sit down and have tea and chat with you. Here, hospitality comes first and business comes second. You can buy the best carpets in Asia in big markets, especially carpets from the former Soviet Union, Central Asia and China, with high quality and reasonable price.
There are gold, silver, copper and porcelain utensils everywhere in the booth, as well as purses, leather shoes and all kinds of jewelry. As long as you bargain home, you can buy good and cheap goods everywhere.
Wherever you go, you can see cafes and restaurants. They offer a variety of dishes that can satisfy almost anyone's taste. Turkish cuisine mainly includes kebabs, Italian pies, boat-shaped thin pies, fried bean paste and so on. Turkey's domestic beer can be compared with any beer brewed in Germany. A unique pudding made of rice, you must taste it yourself to know its beauty. Finally, have a cup of Turkish espresso, and then take a sip of the best cigarette in the world. Without these attempts, how can we say that we have really been to Turkey? Because the bus service in Istanbul is not perfect, walking is the best way. Evening is best for walking. What is worth seeing is the aqueduct built by the Roman Empire, which has been well preserved so far. Traditional architectural structure should not be missed. Buildings in one area have been transformed into restaurants, hotels and art galleries. However, there are still many wooden houses that have maintained their original styles, and they have become a valuable tradition of this international metropolis.