The highlight of the day got to be the Domabahce Palace. The word "Dolmabahce" in English means "The filled garden". Because the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a beautiful 19th Century palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and very French. Many people think that it is a small model of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France.

Wow, the gardens are so beautiful! A nice walk by the Bosphorus leads me to main building. The palace was constructed between 1842-1853 by one of the Ottoman Sultans, Sultan Abdulmecid. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its construction was finished and never went back to Topkapi Palace which hosted them nearly 4 centuries. No wonder the Topkapi looks so run down.

The huge entrance hall with beautiful French Baccarat crystal chandelliers amazed me so much! I didn't expect this place to be so enormous and elegant.

Besides of the French Baccarat and Czech Bohemian crystal chandelliers, the palace is decorated with many portraits by famous artists, like Aivazosvky of Russia. And of course, beautiful carpets are every where.

I am so glad to visit this place. As a matter of fact, I was debating this morning if I should come or not.