Rainy day in Istanbul

Umbrellas, puddles, pouring rain and even thunder and lightening. That was the morning weather as I walked downhill from my hotel, to the Dolmabahce Palace.

Built in the nineteenth century by the reigning sultan, some say that this was the beginning of the unraveling of the empire. With 285 rooms, including apartments for his harem, it took 3000 artists to paint frescoes on all the ceilings. The great hall, large enough to accommodate 2500 guests, had as its centerpiece, a crystal chandelier weighing 4.5 tons, and gifted by the Queen of England. Extravagant opulence at the time of decline of the Ottoman Empire. Now designated as a museum and open for public tours.