Our first big holiday away from London and where did we go? Turkey! Our first attempt to get there was thwarted by the giant ash cloud that hovered over the UK for a time. Thankfully, it moved on . . . and so did we.
Off to Istanbul, the only metropolis in the world that lies on two continents (Europe and Asia):
This is the story of our adventures through a few words, but mostly pictures.
Our family has grown too big to be in a hotel room. Not wanting to be split into two different rooms, we found a flat to rent for our time in Istanbul.
We were on the second floor of the lovely pink building straight ahead. We felt like we were living a little more like the locals.
We watched this shop keeper across the street fill up his little tub for his two pet ducks each morning.
The women down the street worked with their wool every day, washing & drying it,
or further preparing it.
We were able to hit the major sites in Istanbul:
*The Blue Mosque*
We got there during prayer time when visitors aren’t allowed so we had some time to sit outside and marvel at the architecture.
Many men were washing outside, preparing to go in to pray.
There were still some stragglers inside praying when they reopened the mosque.
Seeing the numerous tiles on the inside was just incredible; so painstakingly placed with exactness.
The large amount of blue tiles is actually where “The Blue Mosque” gets it name.
*Hagia Sophia*
This mosque actually started out as a Christian church in the A.D. 500’s.
This is one massively large door!
When the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople (current day Istanbul) in 1453, the church was converted into a mosque . . .
with many tiles, of course.
This was one of Chris’s favorite sites as he studied the Hagia Sophia in college and it’s amazing architecture.
We were all educated on the type of domes, etc. that were used to build it by the time we left.
Some of the pillars have started to lean . . .
One of the kids’ favorite sites was seeing all the stray cats just resting wherever they seemed fit throughout the city.
This one thought the Hagia Sophia was a great resting spot!
* The Hippodrome *
Today, the Hippodrome is a nice park, but it used to be a racetrack for chariot races in the 3rd century AD.
There are three large monuments in the hippodrome. One is this Egyptian Obelisk closest to us. This particular obelisk is dated back to c.1500 BC and at one point was brought from Luxor to Istanbul by Constantine.
* Basilica Cistern*
To ensure there was always a good water supply, whether there was a conflict going on or not, the Byzantines built this underground water cistern beneath the city.
This was just amazing foresight . . and to build something like this underground at that time . . . just amazing!
In the furthest corner of the cistern is Medusa.
Actually, two heads of Medusa used as the base for columns. One is upside down and the other is sideways.
Sounds like a practical joke by those who were sent back in those dark reaches of the cistern!
*Topkapi Palace & Harem*
The building of this palace started in 1459 by Sultan Mehmet II. Most of the buildings now don’t show how they were used, but rather hold the treasury.
The treasury is said to be the most ‘ostentatious collection of wealth ever gathered outside of the legendary Aladdin’s cave.’
They certainly had a great view from their patio.
The most impressive part of our time at the palace was, surprisingly, the Harem.
This is where the sultan’s wives, concubines and children lived, closed off from the rest of the world.
The rooms were set up how they were during that time, which I always love. You can picture their life much more clearly.
Although, it was hard to imagine what it must have been like living there and never leaving the actual Harem or the palace.
This courtyard just doesn’t give you the same out-of-door effect as a yard or open space might.
With the bulk of our major touring done, we’re off to the bazaar and other fun things. Stay tuned for Bölüm Iki (Part 2) . . .
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