Monday Oct 2 in Istanbul, part 2

The Blue Mosque was our next stop after Topkapi Palace and Lunch.  It was very lovely and large, quiet and worshipful--except for all those tourists taking pictures everywhere

I think this is what it says on the door way as you go in.  We did remove shoes and cover our heads respectfully.  The carpets were soft underfoot!

That is one big chandelier hanging from one big, tall ceiling.

The pillars holding up all the domes and arches are immense.  There is no way my camera or phone could capture all of this.

 Outside, the door is covered by a leather curtain. It is rolled up to allow people to pass through. There were a lot of people passing through, and there always is.

Outside, kind of below the mosque (as you must climb many stairs to enter the inner courtyard area) is a large row of fountains and stools for washing before entering to worship.  I was rude and snapped a phot on my way by.

This area near the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace is about the only flat place in all of Istanbul, I believe.  Everything else requires a lot of hill-climbing.

And because it is a flat area, and an old area, it is also very populated with tourists and lots and lots of people.  So there are lots of police around, complete with armored vehicles like the one above.