Today's outing: Karaköy and Sultanahmet

I made my way back to the SALT Galata building to look more closely at an exhibit on Soviet architecture and spend some time in the art library, but the library was closed for the holiday. Still, I enjoyed a little more time there. Here's the view looking across the Golden Horn (Haliç) from the third floor:

Then I went across the Golden Horn to the historic (and severely touristic) Sultanahmet area. I spent some time in Gülhane Park first, which was quite calm, before I ventured out into the TOURIST ZONE. In the past, I think I must have been so awestruck by the architecture that I could mostly block out the mess of tourists and touts. This time it was harder. Today's best quotes: "Hello! I know you! We met in the states. My name is Antonio!!" and "Why aren't you smiling?" Yes, I put on my best 'resting bitch-face' for a reason. I did manage to get a few photos despite all this.

Sultanahmet Mosque

Obelisk in the Istanbul Hippodrome