Bosphorus literally means "cow-ford", so named because Zeus' s mistress, Io, fled across the strait in the shape of a cow to escape the wrath of Zeus's wife, Hera. Myth aside, the legendary waterway is as dazzlingly beautiful now as it was in antiquity. No visit to Istanbul is complete without a cruise along its physical and spiritual heart, the glistening waters that link Europe to Asia, that join the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara.

We begin with a brief visit to the 17^th century Spice Bazaar*, one of Istanbul’s most colorful, bustling attractions. Next, we travel the Golden Horn on our way to an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestic strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia. From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and Rumeli Hisarı, a massive fortress built by Mehmet the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy on this tour are the 19^th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultans’ fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges.

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