Ah Turkey!!! We loved Turkey!!! That is really only to say, we loved Istanbul, because it is the only city we visited, but really loved Istanbul and plan to go back there, and check out more of the country. Anyway, so when we arrived in Istanbul, it was already getting late, and unfortunately I made one wrong turn and we landed right in the middle of a main shopping district at rush hour. On top of that it was starting to rain just as it was getting dark. We have been in some pretty bad traffic in the past (Rio...) but this was the worst. We literally were on a 2 (maybe 3?) lane street, that had cars parked side by side 2 deep on both sides, this left less than a full lane for all the cars and tons of street vendor with there carts of goods to get through. On top of this people were everywhere. And the intersections were worse. It took us about an hour to move 3 blocks. But like I said we loved Turkey, and once we got out of the mess and arrived 5 more blocks away at our hotel we were all happy for the next 2 days (longer actually, but 2 day in Istanbul).
On our first full day in Istanbul we went to go check out some pretty incredible sites. First we stopped at the Blue Mosque. The mosque is large, and really cool to look at from the outside. On the inside it is pretty incredible also, no paintings like a cathedral has, but the name blue mosque comes from the blue tiles they used to decorate the inside. This plus the stained glass windows; it was really cool. When we got inside Jack, who wasn't overly tired, got down on his knees into a typical Muslim praying position. It was pretty cute because he wasn't intimidating anyone, he just wanted to lie down for a minute.
After Blue Mosque we went to the Basilica Cistern. This huge cistern is over 100,000 sq feet! When we got down into it we were almost immediately hit up by a tourist attraction that we couldn't pass up (and we almost always pass them up). They had robes, scarves, and hats like the imperials would wear, and they dressed you up and took pictures, which they sold to us for way too much money. But we got some great pictures and it was vacation. Anyway, while Zac and family was getting there picture taken too, it gave us more time to check out the cistern. I really just loved the cistern itself, all the columns in orderly rows, and all the domed ceilings above for strength. Like so many other things we saw on this trip, it was incredible to think that they built this 1500 years ago. However, one of the main points of interest in the cistern was a couple stone Medusa heads at the bases of a couple columns. No one know for sure why they were built into the structure.
On our first full day in Istanbul we went to go check out some pretty incredible sites. First we stopped at the Blue Mosque. The mosque is large, and really cool to look at from the outside. On the inside it is pretty incredible also, no paintings like a cathedral has, but the name blue mosque comes from the blue tiles they used to decorate the inside. This plus the stained glass windows; it was really cool. When we got inside Jack, who wasn't overly tired, got down on his knees into a typical Muslim praying position. It was pretty cute because he wasn't intimidating anyone, he just wanted to lie down for a minute.
After Blue Mosque we went to the Basilica Cistern. This huge cistern is over 100,000 sq feet! When we got down into it we were almost immediately hit up by a tourist attraction that we couldn't pass up (and we almost always pass them up). They had robes, scarves, and hats like the imperials would wear, and they dressed you up and took pictures, which they sold to us for way too much money. But we got some great pictures and it was vacation. Anyway, while Zac and family was getting there picture taken too, it gave us more time to check out the cistern. I really just loved the cistern itself, all the columns in orderly rows, and all the domed ceilings above for strength. Like so many other things we saw on this trip, it was incredible to think that they built this 1500 years ago. However, one of the main points of interest in the cistern was a couple stone Medusa heads at the bases of a couple columns. No one know for sure why they were built into the structure.
Next we had lunch and then head over to the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar, was crazy large, and it was like a maze, the further in you went, the further it kept going, plus on every other turn there was someone selling pottery, or these great stained glass like lamps, so you could really get lost easily. Not horribly lost of course, but turned around. We decided to split up so everyone could shop on there own if they wanted, but in the end we more or less stayed together, I think this was better... We ended up buying one of the lamps. Bargaining with the guy was a lot of fun too. I don't have a picture of it, so you have to come over and see it, it is hanging over our dining room table.
After the bazaar we started to head back towards our hotel. This wasn't a far walk. We were staying in the Sultanahmet district which is where just about everything we were seeing was located. A big thanks to Zac for planning everything so perfectly, not just Istanbul either, the whole trip really! Anyway, about 1/2 way back from the bazaar was the Blue Mosque and literally across the street from that is the Hagia Sofia. The Hagia Sofia was originally a cathedral, but was then converted into a mosque. Now it is technically a museum, but what is cool about it is the element of both Islam and Christianity that coexist inside. They are doing a lot of restoration and reveling original fresco's that were plastered over when it was converted to a mosque. Additionally, it is multiple stories, and you can actually take a ramp on the side to the second floor and walk around from above. The size was incredible!!!
This a picture of the Blue Mosque in the distance looking out a window from the second story of the Hagia Sofia. So cool!
By the time we finished at the Hagia Sofia, it was getting late in the day, and everyone was getting ready for dinner, so we headed back to our hotel, found a restaurant and had a nice meal. After dinner the majority of the group went to go see a whirling dervishes ceremony. Zac and I stay back with Jonah, Jack, Bran, Nuala, Maeve, Emma, and Riley. Paige was the youngest to go, I'm not sure she really enjoyed the ceremony, but I think it was fun to go with her mom and the other adults. Special girl!!! This is the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque at night when they were walking back from their show.
The next day (Day 8 of the trip) we went to see the Topkapi palace. The palace now is a lot of museums which we weren't especially into, but the grounds were huge, and it was fun for the kids to be able to run around a little again, and great for us to enjoy the buildings and the beauty of the grounds. While there we also picked up a couple Geocaches, so we could add another country to our list...
After lunch we had to leave Istanbul, and head on our way. Julie was a little bummed because we didn't have time to make it to the spice bazaar. It didn't bother me though, just cemented that we have to go back to Istanbul now!!! On our way out of time we drove across the bridge to the Asian side of the city, so everyone could say they had now been to Asia also. Julie took a great shot of the Turkish flag on the Asian side as we were driving. Bye bye Turkey we will see you again!!! Next up (after a long drive) Greece!!!
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Aya Sofia was on CNN today, they were talking about the angel I told you guys wasn't visible last time we went. Apparently they didn't even know it was there until a piece of ceiling mortar fell off last year or so. They just finished pulling the last bits off and estimate the angel has been see in over 160 years. Kind of cool.
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