The country we chose to experience our first solar eclipse on August 11 1999. The 12 day tour commenced in Istanbul once known as Constantinople. This City of Minarets straddles two continents, Europe and Asia and was the capitol of three great empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. During the tour we were to learn much about the culture of these civilizations and the many others that settled in Asia Minor. As always the journey from airport to hotel in a foreign land is mind boggling and Istanbul was no different. The ancient city wall with sections dating from the fifth century, so impenetrable. Mosques dominating the skyline in every direction. Chaotic traffic and honking car horns.

	Our first full day in Istanbul began with the Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman sultans and now a museum housing many of their treasures. The grand buildings displayed silver, ceramics, armory, jewelry and uniforms worn by the sultans. The ornate gates to the throne room were very impressive.

			We saw relics relating to the prophet Mohammed and the cast of a footprint said to have been made by John the Baptist.. The Ayasofya Museum came next, it was built by Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great. The Church of Holy Wisdom, better known as Basilica of Hagia Sophia, was reconstructed by Justinian 1st between 532-37 A.D. The immense dome rises 55 metres above the ground and spans 31metres, another ancient engineering feat.

	Hagia Sophia became a mosque in 1453 following the Ottoman conquests. Only men worshipped in mosques but here the sultans wives could enter the upper levels to discretely take part in the services. On the walls of these balconies are the remnants of beautiful Byzantine mosaics.

Our day concluded at the Imperial Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque because of the fine blue and white Iznic tiles decorating the interior walls. This magnificent building is the only one with six minarets others only have four. In front of the mosque is the Hippodrome, where the Byzantines held chariot races. Three impressive monuments remain. The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.

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