Greetings from Istanbul. Our group arrived safely at Istanbul Tues. PM. Today has been a full day of touring, including the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Archaeological Museum, Grand Bazaar, and a boat ride on the Bosphorus. Tomorrow morning we are to fly out early to Smyrna (Izmir) to begin our visit of the cities of the Seven Churches. This shot shows our guide Orhan giving our group some info before entering the Blue Mosque.
Group shot at Istanbul. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
The Blue Mosque was built in the early 17th century for Sultan Ahmet I and is probably the most famous mosque in Turkey. Its interior walls are covered with blue Iznik tiles.
Interior of Blue Mosque at Istanbul. Photo by Leon Mauldin
The Bosphorus Sea connects the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. About 600 ships per day pass through this narrow strip of water separating the continents of Europe and Asia. As you look east in the photo below, to the Asian side, you are looking at biblical Bithynia (1 Pet. 1:1). This shot was taken as light was fading.
Bosphorus Sea Looking East. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I hope to share more photos tomorrow.
Leon's Message Board 
Leon: Thanks for sending me a link to your blog. I will be following it faithfully. Give my regards to Fran, Ida Nell, Harold, and others I know on your tour. Tell Orhan that we are still waiting for him to publish his book!
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Thanks. I’ll try to keep up with your updates. Hope everyone has a great time.
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Glad you have arrived safely. We will be following you all the way, wishing we were with you and remembering our similar trip. Hello to Orhan.
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Bro Leon,
We are having a wonderful time on this trip with you. You do such a good job with all this. Thank you and looking forward to tomorrow’s sites.
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Leon, my family is enjoying your site. Thanks so much for making this blog. Looking forward to the next few days. Great time!
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Leon,
I thank you for sending me your blog link. How I wish I could be there, but school prevents now. I look forward to a “later.”
Bobby Graham
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Leon (and all the merry travelers!),
Thanks so much for sending me the link to your blog. Needless to say, I certainly wish I was with you all. I’ll be anxiously looking for updates every day, and keeping you all in my prayers for safe travels and lots of great experiences.
Brotherly — GARY
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Leon –
We see no pictures of your grandchildren. Bob and Sandra Waldron were just with us. Know you are enjoying the trip. Through your pictures, we can enjoy the trip with you. You still have something precious to look forward to – grandchildren when you return. You are right! They are great! Love, The Hastings
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Leon,
Top quality, as I would expect from you.
I was interested in the old relic at the base of the column at Sardis Temple of Artemis. Martha Felker must have been at the right place, at the right time to get a picture of him.
Wish we were there. I do look forward to following your trip.
Your bro, Joe
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Glad you’re enjoying the trip. Hi to dad!
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I thank you for taking the time to create this site to inform us of these travels. Don and I have known Kevin FOREVER, it seems. I have so enjoyed these pictures and editorials and I am glad you are getting to actually see these areas. Evelyn Garrett
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Hi Leon: Thanks for sending me a link to your blog. Glad you have arrived safely. Nice pictures. Stay out of harm’s way and come back safe. We miss you at church at Hanceville.
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Enjoyed reading your blog and seeing all of the photos. Sort of puts a “face” on the things we have studied about in the Bible
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Excellent photos! Your niece Savannah and her husband Nate are members where I preach in Anchorage, Alaska. It’s always been my dream to visit these sites as well.
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