The Blue Mosque was constructed between 1609-1616 and stands as one of the masterpieces of Istanbul. It still functions as a mosque and is open to the public. On your way in, you pick up a plastic bag to put your shoes in, and women are given a scarf to cover their heads with if their hair is not already covered. The tilework on the ceiling is breathtaking.
We arrived in Istanbul on the first day of Ramadan ("Ramazan" in Turkish), and thousands of people came out into the square at sunset for "iftar"--the time of the breaking of the fast for the day. Families laid out picnic blankets, and there was an air of celebration.
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