Darryl and Pamela's first full day in Istanbul. Pam's camera did not stop clicking and Darryl is having a hard time trying to describe the beauty and intrigue of this city of 17 million.
Their hotel, The Ottoman Imperial, is S_M_A_C_K in the middle of history. Across the street from Hagia Sofia, originally a 4th century Greek Orthodox Church, then converted to a Mosque and finally a Museum. This is where the day started. Billy Joel picked them up at 9am after their Mediterranean style breakfast of coffee, cheeses, olives, pastries, eggs, fruit etc.
After Hagia Sofia, off to the Blue Mosque, built in the 17th Century.
Probably the most famous Mosque, it gets it's name from from the beautiful Iznic tiles that cover the interior walls. It is still an active Mosque today so here we have to remove out shoes and place a scarf on my shoulders.
D&P were blown away by the beauty and serenity of the building with it's six Minarets.
Next it is off to a ceramic store where they carry the "Master" works of famous Turkish Master Potter Galip. The detail is amazing. There is one of his students working here, a master in his own right, who shows P&D how to make a pot in about 4 minutes..it is like he is creating magic. From this lump of clay..
to this...and wheel is foot operated..no electricity for this Master Potter
"Oh..I think I'll take up pottery when I get home" squeals Pammie!! Darryl shoots daggers this time, "Enough hobbies already Pamela" he says...."why not take up housekeeping?" D&P would have loved to purchase a piece by the Master Galip but the prices are a wee bit beyond their bank accounts allowances. Besides the two couldn't agree on a piece they both loved so they left empty handed.
Next stop..right outside the shop...The Hippodrome..or what is left of it. This is where the chariot races would have been held etc. There is only the center section now and even there there are only a few of the decorative pieces. There is The Obelisk of Theodosius brought from Egypt as a gift and erected in the 390A.D. .. on the bottom stand is a depiction of how it was transferred
There is also another brick obelisk that was once covered in Bronze from top to Bottom. The bronze was taken and melted during one of the Crusades!
OH.."off we go to the Cystern" says Billy Joel
Along the way they pass a simple broken stone with a plastic coated sign hanging by it. "All Roads lead to Rome?" askes BJ of the traveling Canucks..."No..they lead to Constantinople (Istanbul today)" This marker was where all distances of the empire were measured..
"WOW" says Darryl, "that's pretty cool"
On they wander to the Cistern. Pammie is thinking..."how interesting could a water storage source be? Isn't it lunch time yet?" She sucks it's up and down they go to the Cistern. "OMG" cries Darryl. "OMG" echos Pam "this is surreal! Look at the lighting" she exclaimed. And out came the camera.
And so it was they walked through the soaring arches of The Cisterns that once held the water that was used to water the gardens of Topkapi Palace. It is 70 meters wide and 140 meters long and held 80,000 cubic meters of water. Hundreds of pillars hold up the arched ceiling which is just beneath a bustling modern city above. "Hard to describe" says Darryl. "Don't worry" says Pammie "I'll throw in a few photos" There are two pillars that were used and were a bit short so they used to carved heads of Medusa from another ancient location to prop them up...
"I'd love one of those in my garden" quips Pammie
Archeological overload. Darry's perky mind is almost exploding with information and visuals. "Time for Turkish Pizza" announces Billy Joel. "Perfect" squeal the two and off they go down a side street lined with tables
What a day. D&P bid Billy Joel goodbye 'till tomorrow and head back to their hotel. Everything they saw today is minutes from their hotel..amazing.
Poor D&P crash for a couple of hours and then awaken refreshed and ready to face the evening and find dinner. They could get used to this lifestyle!!!
They come upon this cool looking restaurant. You can sit on the floor cushions or on chairs ... "Chairs" states Darryl...my back won't hold out after today if I sit on the floor. So hey sit at a table and order some Mezze (cold appies) , beer, bread and calamari that melted in their mouths. "Crazy day" states Darryl, "Uber crazy day" agrees Pammie.
Time for bed. Lyi Geceler Darryl, Lyi Geceler Pammie ... sleep well..tomorrow is another busy day!!!