De Gustibus and Joan: Istanbul

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Istanbul

Istanbul is a megacity of 13 million people, as well as the cultural, economic, and financial center of Turkey. Our trip from the airport to our hotel, Witt Istanbul Suites, was along the Bosphorus. While for most cities the trip from the airport to the hotel is not aesthetically noteworthy Istanbul is different. The 30 minute drive was lined by the Sea and a meridian full of tulips, tulips, and more spring tulips.

After a good night of sleep we ate a quick breakfast and were off to see the Old City of Istanbul. We decided to go without a guide for the first time. We hopped onto a tram and made our way to the Blue Mosque:

The six minarets of the mosque were considered, by some, to be a sacrilegious attempt to rival the architecture of Mecca. No mosque was to have more, or even the same number of, minarets as the mosque in Mecca.

The Blue Mosque takes its name from the blue Iznik tile work decorating most every surface in the building.

The carpet on the floor was not only colorful but plush.

Staying in the neighborhood, we next visited Haghia Sophia. Nothing prepares you for the grandeur of this “earthly mirror of the heavens”.

We were in awe but a bit hungry. We moved on to the Spice Market, a 15 minute walk.

The next day we switched from the Old City to the Modern City. A 10 minute walk from our hotel put us in Taksim Square. Here we began an adventure viewing, discovering, observing, smelling, and tasting the wonders of Istikläl Caddesi.

Back to the Old City and a tour of Topkapi Palace. The Palace was the main residence of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Today it is a museum that displays the opulence of the Ottoman Empire. The treasury with its jewels and the imperial costumes were magnificent but sadly could not be photographed.

Although uncomfortably cold, we pushed on to the Grand Bazaar. On the way we spotted the nests of Turkish storks which migrate from Africa to Turkey for birthing.