Only in Istanbul would the construction of the "New" Mosque have been finished in 1663 (it was inaugurated in 1665). The mosque is visible from the Galata Bridge were this couple is standing, and is only dwarfed by the Süleymaniye Mosque on the horizon. Istanbul, 2009.
A hookah, also known as a waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) instrument for smoking in which the smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water. The tobacco smoked is referred to as narghile or sheesha in the United States and Canada. Originally from India,hookah has gained popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in North America, South America, Europe and Australia. Here men can be seen smoking in a cafe in the popular area of Tophane, Istanbul, 2009
Istanbul skyline as seen from the Bosphorus.