Istanbul, May 2003

Inside the Hagia Sophia

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:52:36 GMT

Undoubtedly my favourite bulding in the world. Photos cannot do it justice...

Anniversary dinner, all assembled

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:50:53 GMT

A last shot of the anniversary night, and a clearer view of many of the participants

Everybody at dinner

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:49:38 GMT

Well, except me

Sozen and others

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:48:32 GMT

More of the rooftop party

Rooftop party

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:47:20 GMT

The dinner we had on the roof of a resturant on the anniversary of the city's fall.

The Hagia Sophia

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:46:04 GMT

The Hagia Sophia itself, at dusk, 450 years to the day after the last ever Christian liturgy was heard there.

Old Byzantium from Galata

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:43:00 GMT

The view over the site of ancient Byzantium, the oldest part of the city. In the centre, our hotel. On the left, the Hagia Sophia and on the right, the Blue Mosque. Beyond, the Sea of Marmara and the Princes' Isles

We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:39:56 GMT

In how many cities of the world can you miss your stop and end up on another continent? The wall walkers ended up in Asia.

Sailing to Byzantium

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:38:28 GMT

Mitchell on the Golden Horn. Hat is model's own.

In the depths

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:36:48 GMT

Deep inside the Blachernae itself.

Before the descent

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:35:20 GMT

Nicole and Peter, about to descend into the Blachernae Palace.

Atop the Blachernae

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:33:55 GMT

These shanty-type dwellings were built on top of the walls of the royal Blachernae palace. In front of them is a sheer drop of about 40 metres.

THe wall-walkers

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:32:11 GMT

Here are assembled the intrepid expedition-members.

Mitchell leading the way

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:30:39 GMT

From the Yedikule, we set off along the walls towards the Golden Horn. Here, Mitchell sets off north-east between the outer and inner walls.

The Golden Gate

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:25:23 GMT

The gate here is pushing 100 feet tall. The meadow inside the fortress was a mass of butterflies

Citadel of the 5 Towers... and Milo

Endie — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 23:23:07 GMT

This is the ancient citadel built around the Golden Gate itself. With an American provided for purposes of scale.