A few of my favorite things...

I still have a few more days before I have to think about teaching, so yesterday I went out to see a couple of my favorite places in Istanbul--the Archaeological Museum and Aya Sofya, and one place I hadn't been since 1999, the Basilica Cistern (which I won't count as a favorite place, and this visit should last for another 15 to 20 years at least).
Ten days in France hadn't obliterated my Turkish, and I was able to get a Museum card with my residence permit, which is quite a bargain--about 15 dollars to see more than 300 museums around Turkey!
Apparently, it was field trip day for the schoolkids of Istanbul--mercy! It's miracle any of the artifacts survived that onslaught of rambunctious kiddos. I wish I had dared to take a photo of these two guards who were obliviously playing on their smartphones while the little ones poked and prodded ancient things. I didn't take nearly as many photos as before, which you can see on these posts from 2008: Gezme: Sightseeing, Hafta sonu Istanbul'da: The weekend in Istanbul, and Aya Sofya en iyi: Hagia Sophia is the best!
Here are the highlights from yesterday:
(I couldn't use a flash in the museums, so some of these came out dark.)

Archaeological Museum

Aya Sofya

 Cats basking in the heat of the lights

 Medusa Head from the Basilica Cistern

 Sunset from the patio at home