Day 2- Basilica Cistern

Upon leaving the Hagia Sophia, Booker declared that he didn't like Ess-Temple (Istanbul) one bit and he wanted to go back to the hotel. Too bad for him, the Basilica Cistern is located right across the street from the Hagia Sophia. We practically had to drag him kicking and screaming down the stairs and under the city to the underground cistern.

He changed his tune once he realized how awesome this ancient underground water system is. Yup, the boys loved the cistern and not because it was dark and warm and kind of creepy. And not because a James Bond movie was filmed there. Nope, they loved the cistern because of this...

Fish and coin tossing.

They would have been just as happy at a koi pond at the local mall. They thought those fish were pretty cool and admittedly, they were really awesome. Plus little boys love throwing things into water.

It was pretty drippy down there.

In the corner of the cistern we discovered the two mysterious Medusa heads.

Why one is sideways and one is upside down, no one knows. No one even really knows what they're doing there to begin with.

My favorite boys.

A cistern convert.

The cistern also had a little cafe and even though I was about due for another break, the thought of eating down there made me queasy. Plus I think they only served fish sandwiches. ;)