The Bosphorus Strait – Greg and Mandy's Travels

The Bosphorus Strait is one of the most strategic bits of water in the world. Together with the Dardanelles a little way south, they control access from the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea which connects to the Mediterranean and the rest of the world. Whoever has controlled the Strait has controlled trade and held the fate of countries in their hands.

It was one of the reasons that Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to his new capital Constantinople. Over successive centuries it became a prized, strategic possession. When you think that the mighty Russian empire only has a couple of warm water ports (the other one is Vladivostok way over near Japan), having a route from the Black Sea in the event of a crisis is a game changer, and so right up until the Cold War it’s been at the forefront of worldwide military strategy.

It’s very short and narrow – 32 km long and is down to 730 metres wide at points, enabling bridges to be constructed, though Soviet warships need to fit under them. If you get through the Bosphorus, a bit further down you come to the other pinch point – the Dardanelles overlooked by the cliffs of Gallipoli, which the British, French, Russian and Australians fought so hard to control in World War I to keep the Russian supply lines open and troops moving, and were thwarted by Ataturk.

The Bosphorus Strait, famously, also divides Europe from Asia, making Istanbul one of the only cities to be built on 2 different continents. However, as the locals say, continents are only a geographical construct, and for us we just have a river flowing through the city like many others.

Today was our day to see a very small part of this. We were taken on a bus around the Golden Horn, which is really a bay off the Bosphorus Strait around which much of Istanbul is built. Huge amount of construction happening, principally the extension of the metro on a big scale, and the building of a new airport with no public transport access (welcome to Melbourne), so much of it was hidden behind construction fences. Then a morning tea stop and another visit to the Spice Market. Onto a boat for the 1.5 hour cruise up the Straight and back, looking at all the palaces, mosques, and fortifications from over the centuries. Picturesque and relaxing view.

Lunch was at a restaurant overlooking the river which was lovely, then a drive up the top of the highest hill in the city for the panoramic view.

Lastly it was back to the shores of the Strait to visit the Dolmabahce Palace. One of the sultans at the end of the 19th century thought that the old Topkapi Palace was too oriental, and not befitting the capital of such an important empire, and commissioned a new palace designed to rival Versailles, St Petersburg and Buckingham Palace. Not at all Turkish. Very big, very ornate, very baroque, and very forgettable.

Quite late when we got home, but managed a last walk up and down Istiklal Street for tea.