I had heard about Miniatürk months ago. I wasn't every really sure if it would be worth the bus ride and cost to see miniature versions of many of the buildings I had already seen. So, I kind of put off the trip all summer long, figuring if I got bored one day maybe I would check it out. Well, in the last couple of weeks I have met some other Americans (finally!). We have all been here for various lengths of time, and have seen just about everything combined. But the one thing that none of us had seen, and actually many of them hadn't even heard of, was Miniatürk.
After a long and interesting bus ride, we found our way to Miniatürk, at the north end of the Golden Horn. The cost was less than I was expecting (only 10TL!) and when we entered the gates we were all amazingly surprised. It was a beautiful park filled with so many miniture buildings! I think we all got really excited because we were racing through the place taking so many pictures! I actually have 90 pictures just from the couple of hours we were there!
The very first building I recognized was the Selimiye Camii. While in Edirne just a couple of weeks ago, we visited this famous mosque. The detail in the building was just amazing!
This, below, is the Atatürk Airport. Looking at the picture now, it looks like an ariel shot. Even the Miniatürk Airlines plane was great!
The Aya Sophia!
The Aya Sophia on the bottom right. The park area that separates the Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque at the end.
The sitting area in front of the Blue Mosque.
The whole Sultan Ahmet area again, taken from the opposite side. This one is definitely a better view of the Hippodrome (the two towers, and broken snake tower, that this pic focuses on)
The Basilica Cistern. Looking at it if the ground were cut open.
They even had the two columns with Medusa's head!
This is the main railway station near Kadıköy that can take you from Istanbul to many places in the Middle East. I love taking the ferry into Kadıköy to see this!
Taksim Square
St. Antoine Kilisesi. When I saw this building I really liked it. I noticed the nameplate and saw that it said it was a building here in Istanbul. I thought to myself, "I wonder where?" Later on in the day, the girls and I were walking through Taksim. We stopped for a brief second at a gate along Istiklal Caddesi and I another building that I liked...so I took a picture. When I got home and uploaded my pictures, I realized they were the same building! 
Galata Tower
The Bosphorus Bridge
Rumeli Hisari
Dolmabahçe Palace. This is were Atatürk died. I have yet to visit this building, but hope to soon! I pass it all the time heading from Beşiktaş to Taksim.
The clock tower outside Dolmabahçe.
This was Atatürk's home...I believe when he was young. Though, it may have been his home as an adult. I will look into that!
Standing along one of the towers of the Fortress of the Seven Towers.
Football Statium! Go Galatasaray!
Fans in the stands.
Pamukkale.
Cappadocia. In this area of central Turkey, people actually live in the caves and undergroud. Hopefully I will get a chance to see it before I leave! I heard it is amazing!
A building in Efes...another city here in Istanbul that I would like to see! It is believe Mary lived here (and I believed died here).
Okay, this was the most obvious oxymoron of the day... a large chess set at Miniatürk!
Overall, it was a great outing! I am glad I decided to give it a shot! Definitely a place for people to see! There were many buildings here that I did not recognize and they were in places I did not know. But, seeing how I was able to see the St. Antoine here, and then recognize it out in Taksim, I think that I will learn what those other unfamiliar places are soon too!
No comments:
Post a Comment