Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul (, or or ; ), historically known as Byzantium and before 1924 as Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosporus strait (which separates Europe and Asia) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (coterminous with Istanbul Province), both hosting a population of around 15
20th Century Masters – The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait 20th Century Masters – The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait 20th Century Masters – The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait is a collection of some of George Strait's greatest Christmas songs. It was released in 2003 by MCA Nashville. "20th Century Masters – The Christmas Collection: The Best of George Strait" received three out of five stars from William Ruhlmann of Allmusic. In his review, Ruhlmann laments that "this compilation is not what it might have been" because "Strait seems intent on rewarding his current crop of contributing songwriters by including plenty of their mediocre contributions