After a bit of a rough start (two and a half hour plane delay which is bad enough, but when original departure is 2am it becomes even more brutal, and then add a feverish, puking child and it becomes a true joy), we had a fabulous time in Istanbul. We have to fly through Europe on our way back to the US, so it was easy to make Istanbul our extended layover on the way.
We arrived in time for a late lunch/early dinner and our first taste/show that is Turkish ice cream. Our hotel was perfectly located in the tourist area of Sultanahmet. From the hotel roof (where breakfast is served) you look one way and see the Sea of Marmara and the other way is the Blue Mosque.
Our first full day we hit the tourist highlights: Aya Sofya, Basilica Cistern, and the Blue Mosque. Everywhere (and I mean everywhere) we went we were asked where we were from. We answered the US and then we were almost always asked “Are you Mormon? So many kids for American”. That quickly became our excuse as to why we couldn’t buy a carpet…”too many kids”.
The Aya Sofya was first built as a Greek Orthodox church in 537, converted to a mosque in 1453, and then declared a museum 80 years ago. This was definitely a highlight of our few days here, and it was well worth the price of a guide to get the most out of our visit. Ash was fascinated by the symmetrical marble slabs that decorate the walls. She asked our guide how the slabs were cut if they didn’t have any tools. He told us that they were cut with silk! Fascinating.
Next we walked down the hill a bit to the Basilica Cistern. This subterranean structure was built in 532 (about the same time as Aya Sofya) storing water brought here via aqueducts from the Black Sea. It was built primarily using salvaged columns from ruined temples and two heads of Medusa were used as practical bases for the columns. With water dripping from above and carp swimming below it was nice and cool beneath the city.
That afternoon we headed to the Blue Mosque to get an inside look at this magnificent structure.
The next day (Father’s Day) we ventured to the Spice Bazaar and went on a boat cruise on the Bosphorus Straight followed by dinner on the Istiklal Caddesi pedestrian street in the Beyoğlu area. The Bosphorus separates Europe from Asia and also separates the city of Istanbul into the European and Asian sides. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara (Mediterranean Sea).
Happy Father’s Day: any day involving boats, water, and ice cream is a good day in Matt’s book.
Spice Bazaar
Bosphorus Cruise. Istanbul is home to 20 million people – this cruise really allowed us to see the full scale and beauty of the city.
Took the Tünel to Istiklal Caddesi for dinner.
On our last full day we attempted the Grand Bazaar and then went to Topkapi Palace
The Grand Bazaar was way overwhelming; the kids (and Matt) quickly tired of stall after stall of carpets, towels, jewelry, and trinkets.
Topkapi Palace was over the top – sultans, intrigue, harems, concubines are all part of the story. Here is where they also claim to have the staff of Moses. I was wishing that I understood more of the history of Islam because there were a lot of other artifacts.
We had a great time and it was a perfect long layover to break up the trip from Tanzania to the US. I’m sure there’s much more to explore.
