bdl's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Leaderboard Highlights
bdl's activity rankings
1st
Places visited in Cañon City, Colorado
1st
Places visited in Evansville, Indiana
1st
Places visited in Alamosa, Colorado
Loading map...
Istanbul, Turkey

Golden Horn Chain

A section of the long chain that blocked enemy ships from entering Constantinople.
Istanbul, Turkey

Column of Marcian

The only Roman honorific column in Istanbul.
Istanbul, Turkey

Haliç Metro Bridge

Taking the subway here means doing so over a bridge located in the middle of an estuary.
Istanbul, Turkey

Pierre Loti Hill

Have tea in a cemetery with a dazzling view of Istanbul.
Istanbul, Turkey

Theodosian Wall Stone Ladder

Climb a set of vertiginous stone steps to the top of this impressive ancient edifice.
Istanbul, Turkey

Beylerbeyi Palace

This former Imperial summer home was the venue for a royal slap that once echoed 'round the world.
Istanbul, Turkey

Column of the Goths

This column celebrates Rome's victory over the Goths, and may be the oldest Roman monument in Istanbul.
Istanbul, Turkey

Serpent Column

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.
Istanbul, Turkey

Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.
Istanbul, Turkey

Rumeli Hisari

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.
Istanbul, Turkey

Camondo Stairs

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.
Istanbul, Turkey

Nakilbent Cistern

A sixth-century Byzantine cistern hidden below a modern carpet store.
Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia Wishing Column

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet your wish will be granted.
Istanbul, Turkey

Tombs of the Sultans

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.
Istanbul, Turkey

Piri Reis Map at Topkapi Palace

1513 Turkish world map, full of European state secrets and snarky commentary.
Istanbul, Turkey

Obelisk of Theodosius

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.
Istanbul, Turkey

Ottoman Bird Palaces

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.
Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.
New York, New York

New York's Adam and Eve Sculptures

Two large-scale sculptures of Adam and Eve greet visitors in the nude at the Time Warner Center in NYC.
New York, New York

Slocum Memorial Fountain

Monument to a forgotten NYC disaster that claimed the lives of 1,000.
New York, New York

Harry Jenning's Rat Pit of the Five Points

This humble historic facade hides a history of boozing and the gentlemanly sport of rat-fighting.
New York, New York

Greenwich Locksmith

Phil Mortillaro uses keys to bring art back to the Village.
New York, New York

Union Square Metronome

The most confusing clock in New York.
New York, New York

Tammany Hall

The notorious headquarters of a corrupt political machine.