Episode 03: "The Turkish Half" (+) [P3]

Arriving in Turkey was a relatively smooth process. After getting a little help from folks, we found our way to the "Metropolis Hostel", which was a cozy place tucked in the touristy corner of Sultanahmet, the hottest district for historical sites in Istanbul. After getting to know the really chill guys at the hostel a bit, Val and I made our way out to the Blue Mosque, the most popular mosque in Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque

The inside was absolutely amazing. The sanctuary--if that's what I can call it--was huge, lit with low-hanging lights that created a soft ambiance, and of course glowing with the faith of the practicing Muslims in it. Val and I watched a group pray for a little bit, then went outside. The Blue Mosque was just gorgeous inside out--from the intricate tiles on the ceiling to the grandness of the outer courtyard. Simply amazing.

Inside.

The dome.

The next day we tried to hit up the Hagia Sophia, a church set up by one of the Constantines and completed down the line by the emperor Justinian. The architecture, Val told me, was what Turkish mosques like the Blue Mosque were derived from. It was closed that day, so we went to visit the Palace and its museums nearby. Along with setting foot inside of centuries-old buildings of former Sultan royalty, Val and I were able to catch displays of sacred objects. Swords, jewelry, thrones, religious relics, etc. It was a solid romp through Turkish history.

The gate to the palace and its museums.

When we did eventually make it inside the Hagia Sophia, the church did not disappoint. Rich with history that Val illuminated for me, being inside was a pretty special experience. The aged mosaics, the Arabic seals, the tiled crosses, marble jars and more exposed the church's mixed and exciting track record among different cultures. Val and I were probably inside for more than an hour, just trying to take it all in. Great stuff.




Later in the week, we got the opportunity to visit an underground cistern built by Justinian. It was darkly lit, with pathways that let us pass over the water and between pillars in order to get a great look at the site. One interesting part of the architecture was that two Medusa heads, one on its side, and one upside down, formed the foundation of two pillars at the far end of the cistern. The meaning of the heads remains a historical mystery, so it as pretty exciting to check out. Later that day, we went to an archaeology museum, which delved into ancient Mesopotamian goings-on and even the more modern Roman relics shedding light on Turkey's history.

During out last full day there, Val and I took a boat tour on the Bosphorous River, which was awesome. Not so much because of the tour guide (we couldn't hear a thing between his accent and the terrible speakers), but because Val and I had a lot of fun on the boat. The sites we passed by were eye candy, and Val insisted on borrowing boat blankets and using them as props to pass the time. It made for some silly pictures.



The tour ended with a cable-car ride looking over the Golden Horn, a body of water that had its own special history in Turkey, and a ride along Istanbul's ancient Byzantine walls--which were incredible to look at.

In between all the big stuff, Val and I had a great time just chilling as well. We hit some great restaurants (one involving belly and traditional Turkish dancing), met a new friend from Britain who was super interesting, chilled in an underground pub to play chess and which music videos, read books, and just talked. I'm so glad I was able to share such a great trip with such a great friend. Having Val there really made the whole experience worthwhile.


Shalom,
Eric