Michelle travels across the world

Our first full day in Istanbul was as memorable as the rest of them, with the added excitement of exploring the ancient and modern city for the first time. Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents - Europe and Asia. We stayed in the old part, on the European side, south of the Golden Horn. It is a very interesting area, with some of the most famous historical places within walking distance.

Today we saw one of the wonders of the world – Hagia Sophia. This immensely important structure was built in the 6^th century, by the Emperor Justinian, in the Byzantine style, and remained the largest cathedral in the world for close to thousand years. The link provides in-depth information about the incredibly rich history of this wonder. It is hard to fathom the enormity of the building, look for people standing next to columns to get some idea of the scale. Even though the cathedral was converted into a mosque in 1453 after the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmet II, there are still Christian paintings and mosaics inside. Interestingly, Muslims recognize and respect Jesus as one of the prophets and believe in archangels, among the very many similarities between Christianity and Islam. Hagia Sophia reflects this convergence and both Christian and Islamic past. English King Richard the Lionhearted visited the cathedral and there is a painting commemorating his stay. This is truly one of the wonders of the world. The video at the end is from the magnificent Hagia Sophia, I was trying to capture at least a glimpse of the scale of the building that is nearly 1500 years old!!!

The Basilica Cisterns is another example of massively important architectural structure build during the reign of Justinian. It is an underground water collection system to supply drinking water for the city and its inhabitants. There is still water but it is not a source of drinking water for the people. Interestingly enough, there are large carp-like fish that live underground. I have not figured out what they feed on, but they are large! The columns are challenging to photograph because of the darkness and the bright lights that illuminate the bases—it creates really challenging lighting conditions. I did get few shots that somewhat show the cisterns. It is absolutely fascinating to see a place that is several thousand years old and still functional, if needed.

Our lunch, one of many in Turkey, was in a neat little restaurant nearby. We sat on the third floor and partook a great meal, typical for Turkey. During the walk to our next destination, I kept taking photos of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and other places near the Hippodrome. There is just so much to see, in every direction a new sight opens up—another beautiful mosque, ancient building, historical monument.

After lunch, we returned to the hotel and took off in different direction. I followed our fearless leader to visit the Little Hagia Sophia – the oldest mosque in Istanbul that started its life as Justinian era church. It certainly is not a big mosque but a beautiful one, nonetheless. I tasted a fresh pomegranate juice just outside, what a delightful experience. Loved the slightly tart taste.

The evening excursion was to Taksim Square, which has, unfortunately, became infamous latterly. On the way our group took the metro, in existence for 138 years. Our trip was through the tunnel, interesting history. In Taksim, a very popular tourist and local part of Istanbul, we explored the area and shops. Given the Turkish extreme tolerance for other religions, I was not surprised to see St. Anthony’s Church right off the main attractions street, as well as the Bible Society store. The dinner there was yet another culinary delight; most of us ate an incredibly tasty version of Turkish pancakes, filled with various fillings.

The street was brightly lit and very festive. My American buddy commented on how happy and contented the people and whole atmosphere were. It is true; there was a feeling of joy and solidity, friendliness, very positive vibes. On the way ‘home’, I took yet more photos of the stunning Blue Mosque, still learning the setting of my brand new digital camera. Can you tell? J