Ortakoy
Although Istanbul itself is massive, there are little sections of the city that each have their own unique flavor. This past weekend we went into a section called Ortaköy and so far it's my favorite. There is a jewelry market there that has lots of fun play jewelry. It's much less stressful than the Grand Bazaar which is a madhouse of Turkish goods and pushy salesmen. There are no cars on the little streets in Ortaköy because of the vendors and it's a relaxing place to really enjoy the Turkish culture without being treated like a foreigner.

We discovered this beautiful mosque in the center of Ortaköy. After all the bustle of the street, the solitude and reverence we found inside was truly striking. I love this photo because it shows the diversity of Istanbul. Modernity meets history--a mosque that is hundreds of years old, with a modern bridge and a small fisherman's boat.