So in review: Turkey
Turkey was such a difference in culture, geography, and politics then any place I had been to before. I was surrounded with brick buildings, a Latin script based language that sounded almost Slavic, cobble stone streets, and ancient castle-like ruins of Constantinople. There was moss growing up trees, clouded over rainy and windy weather, and homes built on the hills leading down to the Bosporus straight. In some ways the weather and terrain reminded me of Seattle and Kirkland near Lake Washington. The narrow cobble stone streets and dress of the Turkish people reminded me of Eastern Europe and of Italy. But I also saw many beautiful Byzantine style mosques from which calls to prayer came from throughout the day.
The day after touring Koc University and speaking to the students we went to one of the AKP ‘s center (the current ruling party of Turkey) and spoke with a representative about the political realm of the country and its current relations with other countries. After this meeting we went on a tour of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Old Istanbul.
The Hagia Sophia is very unique for the locations use for religions over the years-it was once a Christian Basilica and Roman Catholic Cathedral over the years with similar styles in architecture to the ones I had seen in Italy years earlier. But it has also over the years been used as a Byzantine Mosque after the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks. In the center front of the building where an alter used to be now stands a mithrab and on the four corners of the building are large wood plates on which are in detailed Arabic calligraphy the names on Allah and Muhammad and other well known figures in Islam. It is a very unique and beautiful place that has seen many world events and wars and has still stood. Many churches stood there previous to the current building the oldest being from the 4th century. There are many cracks in the floors from fires and earthquakes and half deteriorated mosaics from the period of its use as a cathedral depicting Mary and Jesus. It also was once the owner of four bronze horses that They originally belonged to the Hagia Sophia but were plundered during the 4th crusade and now stand outside St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice Italy (which I have also seen).
For more on this amazing building and its history:
http://www.guide-martine.com/istanbul_3.asp
Immediately following this tour we went to the Blue Mosque which is within the same area. This mosque is in amazing condition and gets it name for the wonderful beautiful blue detailed tile work found through the whole inside of the building. It was also the first place I had been to where I’d seen stain glass calligraphy designs in Arabic. It is also unique for its 6 minarets which is uncommon most mosque have 2 some have 4 but very few have 6 which makes people believe that this mosque could have been modeled after the famous mosque in Mecca which also has 6 minarets.
After this several of the MESP girls students and I toured the grand Baazar which was a winding maze inside dark and slightly musty but warmer than it was outside. Everywhere you turn there is jewelry, stain glass lanterns, pipes, hookahs, pottery, silk scarves, restaurants ,Turkish tea sets and so much more. That day we just took it all in and wandered and found out prices of things. Afterward myself and one other student walked around and found another mosque nearby known as Sultan Faithas and also found Istanbul University. We got a snack at a local fast food place that serves mostly pastries stuffed with cheese meat and vegetables or potato. We being cold and tired ventured to discover the transit system and found where to buy tickets got tokens and took the metro back to the other side of the Bosporus then took a wire car/trolley up the hill to the hotel.
The picture to the right is of the blue mosque exterior-the one on the left is me in the Hagia Sophia
Ok well that believe it or not was one very long day-so I will make these shorter than my previous entries and work at one thing at a time
Next: visiting the Ottoman Palace grounds and the Bazaar and Souq shopping.
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