Istanbul
Trip Start
Sep 18, 2008
1
2
50
Trip End
Dec 07, 2008
Well, today was a great and exhaustiŭng day. My hotel is at the bottom of a hill and all the major sites are at the top. The day started out pretty well with a trip to Topkapi palace which was huge and amazing. Topkapi palace was home to half of the Sultans of the Ottoman empire. Beautifully decorated in tiles of differing shades of blue and lots of marble. There were a few rooms that we couldn't film in so unfortunately some of the best things we saw aren't on film. In these rooms are all the jewels that the sultans owned including an 86 carat diamond Turban Ornament - so sparkly!! We also saw a staff owned by Moses and a cup that the prophet Mohammed had drunk from. Half way through I realised that my battery for my camera was almost dead since the power adaptor won't work in my room I haven't been able to charge anything. So we went back and Stuart's charger worked so we charged the camera and had lunch. After lunch we went to Hagia/Sancta/Aya Sophia (so many names for one building) which has been a Pagan temple, christian church and Mosque. It was absolutely stunning! I took some great photos that I think Deb will enjoy. We then went to the Blue Mosque or the Mosque of Sultanahmet. We were there just before prayer time so it was amazing to see all the people praying. I was one of only a few who was respectful and rolled my pants down and wore a scarf over my head. Being female I was allowed to go to a part of the mosque upstairs which access is obviously allowed only to women. We sat down for a bit after this because it really was tiring. We then went to the Basilica Cistern which is an underground waterway all lit up. It was beautiful. Now am very tired and about to go back to hotel for a rest. The tour we went on yesterday was very nice - especially the cruise down the Bosphorous. We saw an exclusive club for the Galatasaray Football club which is where Harry Kewell now is. As well as the houses for all the rich people. Saw some of the other palaces which we are going to visit tomorrow. Well that is all for today. Hope all is well over there. XOXO
