Anjar International

I believe there are places in the world one must witness firsthand. Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, is one.

I was very thankful when a recent  business trip allowed me to see this  mystical metropolis  with my own eyes.

Istanbul is the only  city in the world built  on two continents, one arm reaching out Asia, the other, to Europe. The Bosphorus Strait runs through the city and courses to the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.

It is the former capital of three great empires, the Roman, Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires, their rich legacy contrasting magnificently with and adding to the charm of modern-day Istanbul, where posh five-star hotels and shopping centers share space with ancient mosques, churches and palaces.

Breathtaking view- after arriving early morning at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport’ I took a short cab ride to my hotel. I was delighted to discover that my room provided a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus Strait and Sea of Marmara-an auspicious omen to my five-day stay in this glorious city.

I’ve never let travel get in the way of my daily fitness routine, so every morning, during my stay, I took a brisk walk on the lovely streets of the Beyoglu district, where the Church of St. Anthony de Padua is. Thanks to my daily, early morning ambulation, I made good on my promise to hear Mass in the largest Catholic cathedral in Istanbul.