Day #2-Istanbul (Part B)

  For the first time on our journey, we started this morning well-rested and ready for all the different sites we would visit and learn about. Today was nicknamed our “Justinian day” since all the major sites we toured were built during his long reign. We started by visiting the Little Hagia Sophia, a building formed from the remnants of many others. From there we traveled through the Hippodrome on our way to the Hagia Sophia. The Hippodrome features many different artifacts from across the ancient Mediterranean and even 19th century Germany. Our final stops were the Hagia Sophia, one of the most famous religious and cultural sites in the world, and the Basilica Cistern, an underground marvel that remained forgotten for centuries. Most of us concluded our days by sharing meals with friends.   The sites we visited today widely varied in purpose, from a great church/mosque/museum to what is essentially the Turkish National Mall to an ancient water source for troubled times, but ...