Engulfed in vegetation, with a skyline of wooden hills and silhouettes of cypresses, scattered mosques and minarets, the Bosphorus shores offer a splendid view of old-times palaces (Dolmabace Palace, Yildiz Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace), yalis (wooden summer residence of Ottoman elites; the famous 17th c Koprulu yali), luxury hotels and restaurants (at Ciragan Palace), ruined castles, medieval fortresses, fishing villages.
Right after the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge the ferry makes a stop at the fishing village of Kanlica, on the Asian side. The boy seen in the picture will board the ferry to sell to the passengers the delicious Kanlica yogurt sweetened with sugar.