Istanbul - Gate of the Treasury and Clock Tower

5/19/2012 - The crowds are starting to grow for the holiday celebration.  The red banners are blowing in the breeze and the vendors are out on the street, ready to go.

As we drove through town, we could see wonderfully ornate buildings.  This is the Gate of the Treasury at the Dolmabahçe Palace.  The palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922.

 Dolmabahçe Clock Tower.  It is designed in the Ottoman neobaroque style.  It was manufactured by the renowned French clockmaker house of Jean-Paul Garnier.

 The Dolmabahce Mosque was commissioned by queen mother Bezmi Alem Valide Sultan.

 Just a quick check on the gas stations. Everything looks the same as in the US.

 I think that the mosques are very pretty.

 This man is moving something, perhaps onions.  The building behind is painted such a soft green.

 The colorful buildings look like apartments.

 The divider between the two metro lines.

 The modern tram line as it runs through the town.  See more about the development of the tram here.

This was a nice ride through the city. It was clean and looked like it had modern public transportation.