Day 3 Istanbul: the Basilica Cistern and the Galata Bridge

The next visit was to the Basilica Cistern which was built in 532 AD to deliver water to the Great Palace via viaducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea 20 km away.  Now, it is home to the fattest carp I have ever seen.

The  steps down to the cistern and the walkways are pretty damp and slippery, but it is an amazing feeling to think of the age of these remains of the 336 original columns, and the modern city above.

Because the columns were sourced from ruined temples, they vary in appearance.

 So do the bases, two of which feature heads of Medusa.

Our final adventure was walking down to the ferry terminals, then across the Galata Bridge to the Beyoglu side. Fishermen catch fish on the top of the bridge:

The views are amazing, whichever side of the bridge you are on:

and you can pick up a meal from one of the restaurants under the bridge, or from one of the vendors on the foreshore.