Istanbul, Turkey

Of the places we went in Europe, Istanbul felt among the most different. From the chaotic streets and relaxed maritime laws to the peace of an uncrowded mosque, the city provided new and beautiful experiences. I loved witnessing the history of the interactions between East and West that the former Constantinoble represents. My favorite stop was probably Hagia Sophia; it was the largest building in the world when in was constructed in 1535. In only took 5 years to build the massive architectural feat, a fact that boggles even the greatest builders today. It has served as a church and a mosque, while now it is a museum available to the public.