Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople... and so the song goes. Istanbul is one of the largest cities in Europe (10-20 million) and is the only city in the world to straddle two continents. It was celebrated as the greatest city in Christendom for over a thousand years until Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453. Now it's Istanbul. Today, Istanbul is a unique mix of the Muslim east and the European west. Five times per day the 2,500 mosques chant the call of prayer over the sprawling and busy city while tourists (and locals) shop the bazaars or enjoy a drink at the pub. From the tattoo parlor next to the mosque, the Starbucks next to the kebab shop, or the Grand Bazaar down the street from Topshop, Istanbul is full for rich culture and weird contradictions. It's simply fascinating..
