Medusa, Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

You cannot get direct flights to North Cyprus, so we went via Istanbul and stopped for a few days on the way back. We explored Haghia Sophia - wonderful, and luckily we didn't miss the ramp leading to the floor above with its beautiful mosaics. The next visit was to the atmospheric underground Basilica Cistern with its 336 columns. Two of the columns have the carved head of Medusa at the base, one on its side and one upside down.