Day 19, Istanbul

Istanbul

We had a choice of optional excursions to take in Istanbul. I took the Highlights of Istanbul with Lunch, 89 euros. We did not visit every place that was listed in the tour description, including the Grand Bazaar because it is closed on Sundays and today was Sunday. This was greatly disappointing. But we did drive around Istanbul a bit, visited the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. It was cold, windy, and often raining. My first impression of Istanbul was that it was much more modern than I thought it would be. You can see a Burger King sign in the photo. McDonald’s was just up the street. The red flag is the flag of Turkey. Many flags and pictures of Ataturk, Turkey’s first president, were seen as yesterday was the Turkey National Holiday of Republic Day, commerating the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Istanbul

Another street in Istanbul. Turkey is 99% Muslim although their government is secular. We saw many women wearing the hijab––loose clothing and head scarves, but few women wearing a burka––clothing that covers almost their whole body and faces. Our guide was Turkish and a Muslim but did not wear Muslim clothing.

Istanbul

Our first stop for photos was at the gate to the Sultan’s Palace. E

Istanbul

Another view of Istanbul. We were going to cross over the Galata Bridge to travel from Europe to Asia. Istanbul is the dividing point between the European and Asian continents, with one–third of the city being in Asia. The Bosphorus, a strait between the Sea of Marmara, which is the waterway that our ship sailed on to reach Istanbul from the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea, divides the two continents.

Istanbul

On our way to Asia. View of Europe from the bridge.

Istanbul

Lender’s Tower, taken from the Asian side. We were encouraged, weatherwise, by the beautiful rainbow, but more rain was to come. There is a restaurant and cafe on the little island.

Istanbul

View of the Old City of Istanbul on the European side taken from Asia. From the left of the photo: the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace.

Istanbul

Turkish fast food stand. Hamburgers were on the menu.

Istanbul

After driving around Asia for awhile, we recrossed the Galata Bridge and returned to Europe. We stopped at the Fish Market.

Istanbul

Artistic display of fish.

Istanbul

I assume that these are eels.

Istanbul

It looks like this woman is trying to see if the fish will bite her.

Istanbul

The Blue Mosque

We next entered the Historic Section of Istanbul. Our first stop was at the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque gets its name from the blue Iznik tiles inside it. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I between 1609–16 when Turkey was part of the Ottoman Empire. It has six minarets (the tall towers). A muezzin would call the devout to prayer five times a day from a minaret. Today, it is usually done over a loudspeaker.

The Blue Mosque

Entrance to the Blue Mosque. We had to remove our shoes to enter the mosque. We were given plastic bags to carry our shoes in.

The Blue Mosque

There is a Muslim ritual ablution before they enter a mosque. Faces, hands, and feet are washed either at the mosque fountain or under water taps on the wall of the mosque. These devout Muslims are preforming the abultion.

The Blue Mosque

This more adventurous photo of the ablution ritual is from Tom and Cindy Lucas.

The Blue Mosque

Inside the Blue Mosque.

The Blue Mosque

The mimbar (in the middle of the photo), similar to a pulpit, where the imam stands during the Friday prayers.

The Blue Mosque

The devout in prayer.

The Blue Mosque

Inside of the main dome.

The Blue Mosque

Close–up of the dome.

The Blue Mosque

The main dome and smaller domes.

The Blue Mosque

One of the balconies.

The Blue Mosque

The carpeting.

The Blue Mosque

The ceiling and the walls.

The Blue Mosque

Close–up of the tile.

The Blue Mosque

Haghia Sophia

We left the Blue Mosque, put our shoes back on, and headed across a small park to the Haghia Sophia. The Haghia Sophia was built as a Christian church in 537 A.D. during the time when Istanbul (Constantiople) was the Byzantine capital. The Ottomans converted it into a mosque in the 15th century and added the minarets.

Haghia Sophia

One of the two marble jars in the mosque and the inside of the church. That is scaffolding on the right of the photo.

Haghia Sophia

Inside the Haghia Sophia. The calligraphic roundels (the round disks) were added during the 19th century. You can also see a mosaic at the top of the photo––it is of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Even though today the Haghia Sophia is a mosque, the original Christian mosaics have been left.

Haghia Sophia

Close–up of the mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

Haghia Sophia

Inside the mosque.

Haghia Sophia

Another view.

Haghia Sophia

Another view.

Haghia Sophia

The mimbar.

Haghia Sophia

I believe that this is the mihrab, a niche that indicates the direction of Mecca.

Haghia Sophia

Stained–glass windows.

Haghia Sophia

The tile work.

Haghia Sophia

Another view of the inside of the Haghia Sophia.

Haghia Sophia

Mosaics at the exit of the Virgin Mary with Emperors Constantine and Justinian.

Haghia Sophia

A close–up of the mosaic.

Haghia Sophia

The Ablutions Fountain, built about 1740.

Haghia Sophia

Istanbul

Our next stop after visiting the Haghia Sophia was at a Turkish rug store. Here are the rugs all stacked up.

Istanbul

The rugs laid out for us. We were told that if Turkey is allowed into the European Union and goes on the euro that any rug that we bought this day would be worth four times as much in the future.

Istanbul

I didn’t buy a rug although some of our tour group did. I liked this rug in the photo, but the price was definitely not right: $17,000. Downstairs from the rugs was a jewelry store. Turkey is known for its bargains in gold jewelry and gem stones, mainly emeralds. While making a purchase here as a present for my daughter, we could hear the call to prayer over a loudspeaker.

Istanbul

We were given a short period of time to shop at a small bazaar near the rug/jewelry store.

Istanbul

Merchandise for sale. The shopkeepers came out to greet us. The first one said to me: “Come inside and let me help you spend your money.” The second shopkeeper told me, “I don’t cheat as much as my neighbor.” A street vendor asked me if I wanted to buy “an original fake watch.” Incidently, Turkey is known for making such good designer fakes that they are a major purchase for tourists.

Istanbul

Turkish lamps for sale. I think that most of our group tried to make it back to the bus even before our time was up to do so as the street vendors would not leave us alone. They would not take no for an answer. I asked Sabina, our Trafalgar guide, if it was a bad as this at the Grand Bazaar––she said it was much worse.

Istanbul

Topkapi Palace

Our next and last stop was at Topkapi Palace, where we had a Middle Eastern–type lunch. Topkapi Palace was built in 1467 by Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror of Istanbul. This photo shows a model of the palace.