This was one of our first sights, after stepping off the metro tram that we took from Ataturk airport into Istanbul. It was a great introduction to an incredible city. We were staying on the Western or European side of the city where the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia, and Topkapi Palace are. There was so much to see on that side that we never crossed the Bosphorus to the Eastern or Asian half of the city, or the Golden Horn to the middle/northern portion. Although we happened to be there just as the Taksim Gezi Park protests were happening across the Golden Horn from us, the first (and only) indication we had of it were concerned questions from family and friends back home, asking if we were ok. We had to Google for why we might not be. The only danger we really faced was from the wonderful food.
