Istanbul

Can you believe it? I went to Istanbul!! Never ever did I think I'd get to Turkey!! And since Istanbul sits on 2 continents, I got to go to Asia, too. Hadn't been there before.




Pero, Mark and I in the park in front of the Aya Sophia





Mark and I went with his friend Pero. Pero's wife is a pharmacologist and they were having inspections the week we went, so she couldn't go. We missed her a lot. However, having Mark and Pero there was like having 2 little boys at times. They sure know how to cut up together!!

We got there in the evening of Sept 22nd. We walked around the town. We were fortunate we got a hotel right in the heart of all the important sights.

The first night we were looking for a place to eat and Mark noticed a McDonald's. He kept saying he hadn't had McDonald's in about a year and wanted to go there, but Pero and I were persistent and we never ate there.


Bosphorous

On Friday, Sept 23rd, we took a boat tour of the Bosphorous. This straight goes from the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea and divides Istanbul - One part in Europe the other in Asia.









Mark and Pero having a good time together.







Mark and I on the Asia side of Istanbul - Europe is behind us. I think that is pretty cool!

Pero and I enjoying the boat trip.

Spice Market




Mark is investigating all the different spices one can find. We did purchase some nice spices and some delicious Turkish Delight, dried figs and apricots. MMMMMM tasty!!













Beylerbeyi Palace

We visited the Summer Palace of the Sultans called the Beylerbeyi Palace - it's the largest on the Asian side. It has some beautiful Bohemian Crystal Chandeliers















Maiden's Island
We went to the Maiden's Island which is a tiny island that has a lighthouse.



Mark and I were having a cup of coffee at the base of the lighthouse while Pero was still at the top enjoying the view. He called down to us and he was pretending to be "King of the World". We had to break the news gently to him that he was just a mild mannered tax adviser.

Look how blue the sky was!!







The maiden tower at dusk. I love this picture, just wish there hadn't been a car driving by as I took the photo.










The Blue Mosque
Saturday, Sept 24th, we went to visit the Blue Mosque built in 1609. It's called the Blue Mosque because of all the blue tiles inside. You must take off your shoes upon entering. I expected to have to wear a veil or kerchief, but they didn't make me do that. There is a small area roped off that the visitors can enter and see the mosque, but the main part is forbidden for non-Muslims. Having said that, I need to explain a little about Bosnia.

Most people who live in Bosnia are Bosniacs or Muslims. Since the war, there is a small percentage of Croats or Catholics and Serbs or Orthodox that also live in Bosnia. Pero is a Croat but he lives in Bosnia and is therefore Bosnian but not a Bosniac. It's very confusing, but important.

Pero is also a "schmoozer". He'll talk to anyone and loves to tell people he is from Sarajevo, Bosnia. People in Turkey are very happy to meet him and think he is a Bosniac. Mark and I are American's but we are a dime a dozen and we weren't so interesting to the locals. Pero made friends with the man who gave us a little tour of the Blue Mosque and was so happy to meet Pero. He felt a camaraderie with Pero. Pero did not tell him his name. It is a nickname for Peter - a very Christian name. WELL, the tour guide felt such a camaraderie with Pero that he permitted him to enter the main area of the mosque where only the Muslims may go. Pero was all excited and went to the front where the Imams preach and got this great picture for me.

Afterwards, the tour guide was looking for some money. Mark gave him 5 Turkish Lira and Pero gave him 1 Turkish Lira. The tour guide tried to explain to Pero that this wasn't very much money. The tour guide expected that since he and Pero were brothers in the Muslim faith that Pero would be more generous. Well, needless to say, we all had a good laugh over Pero's new found religion. Mark and I now call him Mohammed.



We saw the Blue Mosque at night and I must have taken 2 dozen photos to try an capture it's magnificence. I don't think I did it justice.













In the park between the Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque there were these gentlemen dressed in local Turkish garb offering us a drink. They carry a caraf on their backs and there is a spout over his shoulder and he is pouring the juice into a cup. I suspect this is something for the tourists, but it was quite cool!




After the Blue Mosque we went to the Grand bazaar. This is a little city in and of itself. Mark and Pero got just so far and decided that this wasn't for them. They gave me an hour to shop around and buy things. Yup, One Hour!! I did it. I would have liked a little more time, but that was probably enough. Walking through the bazaar I was thinking of my daughters and how much fun we had shopping in Sarajevo in the old area of the city. I really missed them and wished they were with me. I think we could have finnagled a little more time from Mark and Pero if I had more females on my side.


One night we went to an outdoor restaurant for dinner and music at the Dervish. There is a sect called the Dervish and the musician plays his music and the men twirl around and around and around. They are called the whirling Dervish. Sometimes I think I am so stupid. I had no idea that this is where the phrase "Whirling Dervish" came from.




Topkapi Palace

Sunday, Sept 25th, we went to Topkapi Palace built 1459-65 . We got there early and got to see the Harem of the Sultans. Harem means Private area. This is where all of the women would be... there may be 100-200 women there, but only about 10 were chosen to be the wives of the Sultan. Usually the Sultans mother picked out the girls for him.


















Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia)
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia)"Hagia" in Greek means "Divine" and "Sophia" means "Wisdom". "Divine Wisdom". This building was first built as a church in 360AD and was burnt down in 404AD. A new church was built in 405AD and it too was burnt down. The third church was built in 537AD. It stayed a church until 1453AD when the area was conquered by the Turks. It was then converted into a mosque. The beautiful mosaics were plastered over but that seemed to preserved the mosaics. It remained a mosque until 1929AD when it was converted into a museum. Can you believe that this building is almost 1500 years old!! I was in awe.



I also took about 2 dozen photos of the Aya Sophia at night. This one looks pretty good!









We had a wonderful time there. We frequently enjoyed Apple Tea. Mark and Pero smoked a Hooka Pipe. Pero got us a 10% discount at a restaurant. We laughed and had a lot of fun.

Next week we are off to Vienna...........