Today after breakfast our guide arrived to take us on a tour of this fascinating city. Our car transported us to the Hippodrome where we first hear about the incredible history of Anatolya/Constantinople (name change in 325). In the Hippodrome there is an obelisk that is 3500 years old, weighing 800 tons. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, which started construction in 1609 and took seven years to complete. It is amazing with a dome 46 metres high and 27 metres wide. The reason for the colour blue is that is represents the Mother Mary. There are 7,700 tiles decorated with tulips.
Morning Turkish coffee break with Turkish delight and the best baklava I've ever had....yum!
Hagia Sophia, or more commonly referred to as the "pink" mosque due to it's colour, is the original cathedral and served as such for 936 years before becoming a mosque for the next 481 years. It is now a museum with a larger dome than the blue mosque at 56 metres high and 43 metres wide. There are many mosaics on display that are centuries old.
Authentic Turkish lunch at a local restaurant. I have "giro", which is a kebab - meat served on a plate with rice, pita bread, lettuce and tomato.
Next stop....Topkapi Palace Museum. Quite an experience hearing about the harems and the adopted children. Topkapi Palace houses the world's largest diamond - 68 carats - amongst it's treasures, not to mention a selection of historic artefacts including Prophet Moses' rod and Prophet Joseph's turban which is reportedly 3,500 years old.
Our guide took us to the local leather manufacturer....supposedly 'best' prices....mmmm.
Last stop is the Spice Market where we are escorted to a 'friend's' store.... nearly 700 Turkish lira later we leave laden with lots of Turkish delight, spices and brightly coloured bowls. Another mmmm.....
Gordy is now engrossed in an English speaking movie so I will have to work on extricating him from the 'remote' to go out for dinner!
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| Olive anyone? |
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| Spices and tea |
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