Top Reasons to Visit Istanbul for My Next Vacation

1. Hagia Sophia--The great Byzantine church cum mosque cum museum. Built by Emperor Justinian and completed in 537.

2. Blue Mosque--Built by Sultan Ahmet I to rival Hagia Sophia, the Blue mosque gets its name from 20,000 blue ceramic tiles that line the walls.

3. Whirling Dervishes--Followers of the Muslim poet Rumi, the Dervishes' dance is a mystical expression of Sufism.

4. Turkish Baths--The hamam is steam bath, a scrub, and a massage all in one. 

5. The Grand Bazaar--Sixty streets, 5,000 shops, two mosques, with rugs and restaurants and more. 

6.Culinary Tour--Think kebabs, baklava, Turkish delight, and chicken pudding 

7. Egyptian Spice Market--Every spice under the sun, with dried fruits and seeds and nuts to boot. 

8. Turkish Coffee--Quite possibly the strongest coffee brewing method on earth, with no real attempt to filter out the grounds. Just let them settle, and sip away.

More to come...