Saturday 10 October

Our last day in Turkey and the news shows a suicide bomber killed around 100 people at the train station in the capital Ankara. So sad and terrible for Turkey. We took ourselves to the Spice market and tasted some more Turkish delight – pomegranite with pistachios. We had delicious pide for lunch, bought some tea to bring home as well as some small presents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we found the stairs to the Rustem Pasha Mosque which is a very small mosque with beautiful blue tiles and only one minaret. Although smaller than the other mosques we had seen, it had a certain special feel,  possibly due to its position in the Spice Market and the blue tiles. Then back to the hotel, another great dinner in one of the restaurants near the hotel and then to the airport for our flight home.

Friday 9 October

Extra prayer times at the Blue Mosque occur on Fridays and visitors who are not there to pray have restricted times for viewing. Instead , we started at the Hagia Sophia which is now a museum and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. It was originally a church, then a mosque but is now a museum of the Turkish Republic. Three churches have been built on the site and part of the second church can be seen in the carved lambs which represent the 12 apostles. The third church has been affected by earthquakes causing cracks in parts including the dome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving to the Blue Mosque after a lunch on the rooftop of a restaurant, long pants are required and headwear for women to enter. This mosque is the only mosque with 6 minarets and is called the blue mosque due to the blue tiles which decorate its interior. Like the Hagia Sophia, it is large and beautiful and both important buildings should not be missed in Istanbul.

 

 

 

 

Near the Haghia Sophia we descended the stairs to the Basilica Cistern under the city. It is quite surprising to be suddenly in this underground area lit but lamps to show the pillars and walkways. In between the walkways, there is water and some areas have fish (carp I think). Find the two medusa heads in the two columns in one corner and then return past the Cistern Cafe if the mustiness in the air doesn’t bother you too much.

Thursday 8 October

Back in Istanbul, we had a late start and were dropped off by our driver Umit for the last time (as Umit was then travelling back to Cappadocia) at the Topkapi Palace. It was the main residence for the Ottoman sultans and their wives and harem. The Palace (which is now a museum) is very large with four main courtyards, the first being an area which was used by the public originally and visitors needed to pass through the Gate of Salutation to enter the second courtyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From here, a long and slow queue led to the treasury where the very large Spoonmaker’s diamond which was sold for three spoons to a jeweller and ended in the sultan’s headpiece can be viewed. A good view of the Bosphorus is from the open area off the treasury room. The large numbers of people in the Palace meant seeing each area in the Palace was slow but worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending the morning in the Palace, we spent the afternoon at the Grand Bazaar. We caught the tram which is always jam-packed to the Bazaar filled with many shops selling all sorts of goods including jewellery, beautiful plates, scarves galore, amazing turkish delight and so on. There were so many people there we felt like we were back in India!! The ceiling and walls were all tiled and it is very beautiful when you look up. Back to the shops! We negotiated the price of some cushion covers down to 50% of the original price, had some pomegranite juice which is very delicious and then trammed it back to the hotel. Opposite the hotel, some gift shops sell similar wares and we found the cushion covers for a cheaper price! Exactly the same and cheaper!

Grand Bazaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night, we wandered around the streets near the hotel which lies in the old city and is close to restaurants as well as the Spice market and other landmarks. At night, the waiters stand outside their restaurants to entice customers in to have a meal. So after being pursued by waiters and reading menus, we settled on a restaurant in the street behind the hotel. A young waiter (and all of the waiters are male) told us his name but then said we could call him George after George Clooney – and he did look like the famous George! We had beer, red wine and delicious lamb kebab and of course salad.