Until COVID struck, I was traveling once or twice per year to Istanbul, Turkey, to teach law school (week-long courses). I look forward to the day when I can again travel to Istanbul. I truly miss the visiting in person with students and friends. The Turks are awesome! I keep in touch with several of them. But I also miss the many astounding images one sees everywhere in Istanbul. I took the top photo in 2017. I reworked it tonight. This is an image of the Blue Mosque that I took from the Hagia Sofia (which was built in the year 532). The photo below is the interior of the Blue Mosque (built in 1609). Seeing these ancient buildings in person gives rise to deep emotions of admiration for the architects and builders. Seeing them with your own eyes caused me to think of the multitudes of people who have visited these structures at so many key points in their lives.
This final photo is one I took while riding one of the many ferries that plow the Bosphorus day and night. The city of Istanbul is partly in Europe and partly in Asia, and the waters of the Bosphorus Strait mark the boundary.