Two bleary-eyed tourist's stumbled down to breakfast. They may not be able to work air conditioning, but they do put on a great spread for breakfast. After breakfast we got onto the bus and set out to Topcappi Palace for our first stop. This was the home of the Rulers of the Ottoman empire starting around 1000 ad. Suleman the great built the palace after he took Constantiople from the Roman rulers. Each sultan which followed after Suleman kept adding to it making it bigger and more elegant. This continued until the begining of the decline of the empire, until the place fell into such decay, that everyone moved out. The jewels of the treasury are kept here on display, and they are spectacular. The world's largest diamond is here, and it is the size of a fist. There are four courtyards, the common people were only allowed into the first, high ranking officials would meet in a building in the second to discuss the business of the state. High ranking ministers could get into the third, and only family and servants in the fourth. The harem is now open, but all the furniture has been taken to a museum, so there are only empty rooms. Also located there is supposedly the stick of Mohammad, part of the skull and arm bone of John the Baptist, and the sword of David. We do believe. (or maybe we don't)
Saving in draft until Internet available
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