Day #2 - Istanbul (part A)

  Today marked our second day in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Türkiye. We started our day by visiting the Little Hagia Sophia and learned about its history as a church, and its later conversion into a mosque—given away by the asymmetrical interior. We then walked to the Hippodrome where, for centuries, horse races had been held. It is now a beautiful plaza. Following this, we toured the Hagia Sophia (Hi-yuh Sophia) and visited the galleries and learned about its multireligious history. Finally, we finished off our day by exploring underground and visiting the Basilica Cisterna, the largest ancient cistern in Istanbul, which was used in Byzantine times. Its size is impressive and its purpose was to be a source of water in case of a siege. Most of the sites we visited today were built under the order of Emperor Justinian. So today was our  “Justinian Day.” Each site we visited had many interesting details; one prominent theme was the architectural marvel imposed in each buildin...