The Blue Mosque with its six minarets As we approach Istanbul from the sea, the graceful minarets of countless mosques appear on the horizon and the Islamic call to prayer carries over the water. Istanbul's blend of East and West has resulted in some of the most magnificent architecture in the world, including the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. At the Topkapi Museum, formerly the Sultan's Palace, the treasures of the Ottoman Empire are on view. After we tour the mosques we will bargain for treasures in one of the Grand Bazaars' 5,000 shops. The Temple of Hadrian A trip to nearby Ephessos should not be missed, for this is where history truly comes to life. Here we can walk on the Arcadian Way, where once Mark Anthony and Cleopatra rode in processions. Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, we pass architectural masterpieces. We enter the ancient site through the Magnesian Gate and discover innumerable monuments including the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre built in the Greek era and reconstructed during the Roman period. The Great Theatre is still noted for its remarkable acoustics.