One of the most interesting sights in Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern, an enormous underground cistern. Ancient columns hold up the building above, some very ancient. Prior to the creation of the cistern, a Basilica stood on this spot. This was probably in the 3rd or fourth centuries of the Roman Empire. It is an eerie feeling walking underground (on a new concrete walkway) with water all around.

At the base if two of the columns are Medusa heads. No one is quite sure where they came from or why they are there. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to know they were simply repurposed from older columns. We saw many examples of newer buildings with much older stone blocks or columns.

Locals drew water from the cistern until the mid eighteen hundreds but the cistern is no longer used as a water source.

The other sight we saw was one of the largest spice markets. An indoor market crowded with tiny niches, all with different specialities, this one is one of the largest in Istanbul. It smells powerful of spices. I bought a tea, which came as leaves and berries, and saffron. Even in Turkey, one of the largest exporters of saffron, it was pretty expensive.

This is what the crowd looked like outside; it was even more crowded inside.