Postmarked Taksim and dated 4 August 1983.
Rumeli Hisari on the European shore of the Bosphorus (1452)
Istanbul Turkey.
The fortress was built in 1452 by Sultan Mehmed II before he conquerered Constantinople. It was designed to control the passage of ships through the straits but eventually lost its importance when another was built further up near the Black Sea. It became a prison for a time but it was abandoned in the 19th century. It then became a residential area inside the walls until the inhabitants were relocated to allow for restoration.
The message reads "Had an exciting night near Thessalonica when a hurricane suddenly struck - the worst in 150 years they said."
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May you be prettier, richer, healthier and happiest this coming new year!! Happy year 2009!
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog (just found it through the postcrossing forum)! And I was so proud to see Rumeli Hisari at the top of the page today. :) It is very beautiful. My husband attended a university that's located just next to the fortress and the view of the Bosphorus is amazing from there. :)
ReplyDeleteHi ECL, many thanks, and best wishes to you too!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, welcome! What a coincidence, because I have relatively few cards from Turkey. It is such a shame when it is such an interesting country. All those historical places that I've heard of but never really realised where they were.