Untitled — 2 years ago
I would really like to go to Turkey in general, but if I went I would absolutely have to go to Istanbul. Formerly Constantinople, named after Constantine, the first emperor of the eastern Roman empire after it split in two…an empire stubbornly sticking to Orthodoxy while stuck between the growing pressures of Catholocism to the east and north and Islam to the south and west. An empire that could have been much greater than it ever actually was. Another one of my favorite eras and places in history.
...and did I mention the architecture is just astounding? I admit I need to learn more about architecture before I can fully appreciate it, but even seeing pictures of the Haghia Sophia is just breath-taking:
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=107563
/me drools
