This photo is of the Library of Ahmet III, just one small building at the palace. Perhaps every school kid ın the country was there en masse, so it was a game of trying to get to each of the rooms either before or after a stampede came through. Museum displays of some of jewels were really amazing, including an 82 carat cut diamond.

Bokyong and I toured the harem, which cost extra but was well worth it for the architectural interiors. Unfortunately for me the harem is no longer in use, but I hope for the sake of its former occupants that the sultan had a thing for girls in sweaters. It was cold in there, and many rooms had no fireplaces.