46/50.- Istanbul, Rumeli Hisari on the Bosphorus European shore

We left for our last day in Istanbul the pleasure of a Bosphorus Cruise. Again at Eminonu ferry dock, we board one of the passenger boats that sail along the shores with stops on the Asian and European sides. The round trip takes 6 hours but this is going to be an enjoyable unforgettable day along the Istanbul Bogazi (Bosphorus).

The Bosphorus Straits is 30 km long, with a maximum width of 3.7 km at the northern entrance and a minimum width of 700 meters. The Asian and European shores are connected by two suspension bridges: the first suspension bridge, the Bosphorus Bridge was built in 1973 and the second one is the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, to the Black Sea side.

The second bridge is located at the narrowest point on the Bosphorus. Close to the bridge facing each other across the straits, are the fortresses Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari, built by Mehmet II short before the conquest of Constantinople. Rumeli Hisari (seen here in the photo) is now a museum. From this vantage point you can watch the vessels passing by.

The Bosphorus is one of the world's busiest waterways. An average 50,000 vessels pass through the strait every year. In addition, between 2,000 and 2,500 smaller ships use the Bosphorus to transport tourists and residents between Istanbul's European and Asian shores.

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