"Istanbul - Bridge beween Europe and Asia " a Istanbul Travel Page by MikeAtSea

I have been to many cities around the world and one of the most important aspects of me enjoying any destination are its people and the vibe that one feels when visiting an area. Arriving in Istanbul on Turkish Airlines that feel was already evident on the incoming aircraft with genuine hospitality.
Istanbul is a frenetic city with a wealth of culture, history and nightlife. Being split in two by the Bosporus Strait, it is also the only city in the world to straddle two continents, Europe and Asia and thus has two very contrasting atmospheres.
Its history goes back to the 7th century BC when it was founded on a naturally defensive site from which trade along the Bosporus could be controlled. For 1600 years it was a great imperial capital, starting with the Byzantine Empire and then the capital of the Ottoman sultans.
The city embodies mystery, intrigue, and glamour which left most other cities long ago. While the museums, palaces, great mosques, and bazaars seem inexhaustible, there’s also an unexpected natural beauty. From the shores of the Bosphorus at sunset, the red evening light reflects in the windows on the opposite shore and you understand what attracts people to this glorious city.

Shopping in Istanbul is most likely the least expensive in entire Europe, food is varied and exquisite combining unique tastes of European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines - thanks to the Ottoman Empire that once spanned from eastern Europe to Northern Africa and desserts of Arabia-, and the seven million who live here mingle with a wide variety of humanity walking its streets.
Istanbul is the largest metropilitan are of the Republic of Turkey.
The city covers a total area of 5712 km˛ including, within the urban district, the islands of the Marmara known as the Princes Islands.
Istanbul winters are warm and wet, summers hot and dry. The climate is tempered by warm Mediterranean winds which counter frequent Black Sea cold fronts. Temperatures vary moderately between day and night, and from season to season. The summer season is approximately 90 days long, while winter is 80 days long. Snow fails for an average of 7 days in a year.
The largest river in the region is the Riva, which flows into the Black Sea. In addition there are two rivers flowing into the Bosphorus. Istinye river and Buyuk river. The region also boasts three small but notable lakes, all on the European shores of the Bosphorus.
The city, whose population is about 12 million, is a major port and trade center. It is the most important city in Turkey, possessing a number of universities, high schools, libraries and cultural centres. The city is an impressive sight, situated, as it is, on a site dominating both the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, and brimming with fine monuments and artefacts of the Byzantine and Ottoman era.
Up to the Turkish conquest of Istanbul by Mehmet II in 1453, the city was the centre of the Byzantine Empire. After that date it became the center of the Ottoman Empire. After the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the capital of Turkey became Ankara.
Istanbul is a vibrant city, walking down Taksim Square on a Saturday night I thought Picadilly Circus in London looked small and boring in comparison. The diversity, combined with the hospitality and the countless attractions of Istanbul make this one of my favourite cities on earth.