We were driving through Istanbul in a car. We drove on a highway that ran nest to the Bosporus sea. There were many ships in the sea. I imagined that they had silk cargo and they were preparing to trade. On both sides of the car were many buildings and small streets with lots of markets and stores. I kept thinking any minute now the blue mosque will appear. After ten minutes I still didn't see it. Then we turned into the Sultan Ahmed Square which had narrow rocky roads with lots of tourist shops nearby. We were getting closer. Then the car turned another corner. And there it was! It was huge! With lots of minarets on each corner. It was very blueish gray against the rainy cloudy sky in the background. But it still took my breath away. We exited the car and walked into the courtyard. At first you see the huge mosque and just from the outer part of the building you are amazed with the architecture. Then i walked into the gorgeous courtyard. Which is lined with gardens and benches and waterfalls. Everyone is walking around admiring the massive building.

Then we entered through a gate and into another square. This is an outside square inside the walls of the mosque. The floor is covered in marble squares with minaretes surrounding you. Then we walked into the real inside entrance of the mosque. There was quite a crowd even on this rainy winter day. We took our shoes off and put it inside a sack and entered. As soon as i entered my jaw dropped and I felt like a bird looking at the huge sky surrounding him. Every inch of the wall and ceiling are covered by beautiful tiles with delicate patterns. Alot of beautiful arabic calligraphy that goes on endlessly. I begin to examine one pattern and I would get lost in another one. I wanted to stand there for hours just looking at it. This is real i thought, I am not looking at pictures! The room is very large with room for everyone to pray. People, mostly tourists are roaming around taking many pictures. I even saw a bride and groom taking their wedding pictures there!

After I prayed, and took lots of pictures with me and a thumbs up sign we went outside. Directly opposite the blue mosque is the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was originally a church built during the Byzantine Empire. When the Ottomans conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) they turned the church into a mosque and adding Islamic architecture to it. Then in 1601 when Sultan Ahmed I began his rule in the Ottoman Empire he decided to build the first moque of his rule. He constructed the mosque directly opposite of the Hagia Sophia with alot of the same architectural ideas of the Hagia Sophia in mind. The Blue Mosque therefore incorporates classical Byzantinan architecure and Ottoman Islamic architecture.

I love how you can stand in between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Two grand Empires within walking distances. East meets West!

If you want to check out all of my Blue mosque pictures please look at my album on Facebook!