Synopsis

In Istanbul, we will allow ourselves to be delightfully lost within the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar and savor the aromas of the legendary Spice Market. We will trace the decline of Byzantium's ancient dominion and the ascendance of Islam along the city's historic walls, and meander through the opulent collections of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace. To find respite from the urban energy, we’ll journey across the turbulent waters of the Bosphorus, share games of backgammon with new