Istanbul was the first city outside of Russia, which I visited. Since then, I love it with all my heart and sincerely hope that it is mutual. Istanbul (or Istanbul, as its locals call) - this is the place where you want to return, because you will never see everything that you can see, and you will not do everything there you can do. Like any megalopolis, he stuns his infinite variety of people, cars, buildings and streets. Like the Eastern megalopolis, Istanbul always keeps a kind of riddle and it becomes even more attractive from this.
Geographically, Istanbul is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, the border between which takes place through the Bosphorus Bay.
Therefore, the city is quite logically divided into two parts: European and Asian. Most of the attractions are located in Europe (Sultanahmet district, where you can see and Ayia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque and the absolutely stunning Palace of Topkapi, where Turkish Sultans lived). In the European part there is also my favorite part of the city - Khalich, who everyone knows as a gold horn. The Mosque Eyuped Sultan, who is located here, always impressive me with his cemeteries, the eternal meetings of religious old people,
A huge amount of pigeons and a small bazaarc nearby, where you can buy the cheapest oil perfumes.
But in the Asian part of Istanbul, the main city beaches are concentrated, mainly in the Bostanzhi area. I can not say that I really liked them, all-like Bosphorus -Anamed shipping, therefore, there is enough dirty in the city. Much more souls came the beaches on the printed islands. In general, the islands - the dark for a separate revocation. For some one and a half liters you fall into such small Greece within Turkey. Cyclists, horse roses, ice cream - just beauty! True, to find a good beach, it is better to go deep into the island, along the coastline everything is overflowed by tourists.
In Istanbul, there are so many things that in one recall and do not list. Therefore, I will say briefly: I just want to return there. To walk through the narrow eastern streets, hear the singing of Muzzin at sunset, hunt your feet in the Bosphorus and eat just a stunning Turkish Rahat-Lukum!