As sala'amu alaikum (Peace be with you)
Hagia Sophia dominates the Old Town area of Istanbul. Just a 5-minute walk from
my hotel. This building began life as a church 1500 - yes, fifteen hundred!
years ago. Later it served as a mosque. Turkish leader Ataturk had it re-commissioned
as a museum so that it might be appreciated by all regardless of their
religion.
I made this drawing about three weeks before I went to Turkey, using a photo from Rick Steves' tour booklet. It was wonderful to see it in person.
The Spice Market in Istanbul was not as frenetic as the Grand Bazaar, nor were the vendors as pushy. It was here that I purchased a lovely wool/silk mix scarf and of course some spices and tea to take home.
The massive doors to the caravanserai in Konya dwarf tour member Gwen MacNairn. She stands at the entrance to Sultanhani, the largest and best caravanserai of the seljuks. Built by Alaattin Keykubat I in 1229.
Every inch if the entrance to the caravanserai is embellished. 
Inside the protective walls of the caravanserai are spaces open to the night air and others with roofs for more protection from the elements. I am sitting on a stairway attached to the small mosque in the center of the open courtyard.
Gold mosaic ceiling of Chora Museum, Istanbul.
The mosaics depict stories from the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Every wall and ceiling is adorned with paintings or mosaics in Chora.
Exterior of Chora Museum.
Entrance to Topkapi Palace, the home to the Ottoman Sultans for more than 400 years.
Tour members are eager to get inside the Harem of Topkapi Palace!
Inside the Palace courtyards is this exquisite drinking fountain.
I love the attention to detail inside the Harem of Topkapi. It seems that every surface is adorned with tile and gold paint. Even inside the shelves.
A view of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque from inside Hagia Sophia. Travelers know it as The Blue Mosque because of the turquoise color that dominates the interior. And speaking of turquoise, that's a French word that translates as 'color of the Turks' and coined for the color inside The Sultan Ahmet Mosque.
Mosaic inside Hagia Sophia. Known as a donation mosaic, depicting a patron who funded church construction.
This is one end of the stadium at Aphrodisias. Tom, Gwen, and Steve await the entertainment.
Alma sits at the other end of the fairly well-preserved stadium at Aphrodisias. 
Taksim Square on Istiklal Cadde (street) in Istanbul is a beautiful statue. Tourmate Sean and I walked the length of Istiklal and caught a trolley from the statue
back to our meeting place. While riding, we met friendly, college-age men
and women who let us practice our Turkish with them.
Whispers of Love