At 09:00, we arrived at Topkapi Palace. We began our visit from the Harem, and then the Palace Courtyards, and finally the Treasury. By the time we reached the Treasury, the Palace was packed with tourists. The Treasury contains some really interesting artifacts, including the sword of Prophet Mohammad.
For several centuries the Topkapi had been the royal palace for the Ottoman Empire. Today it's a World Heritage site and a magnificent example of Ottoman architecture. The history of the Ottomans has always fascinated me. From a groups of nomadic tribes (突厥) who dominated the Central Asian Steppes, migrated west to the Islamic Empire and became Islamic warlords of the Near East, and then established their own empire and culture somewhere between Europe and Asia. Their culture was a true fusion.
We had lunch at a restaurant called Hamdi Et Lokantasi, located on the rooftop of a century old building. We had some "authentic" Turkish food, such as Turkish pizza and eggplant kebab. The eggplant with mince lamb meat, grilled to charcoal black. The taste wasn't bad, it's just something I can't have everyday.
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