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| Istanbul |
Istanbul is a large city divided into two continents and has
15 million people inhabiting it. Needless to say, it is one of the most visited
cities and offers a wide range of finds for the budget traveller to the history
buff. The city seems to take you back to an older time, yet it is incredible
modern as well. Here are a few sites that were awe-inspiring, beautiful, and
some that are obvious “must sees” when journeying there.
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| Red Glow from Basilica Cistern |
Basilica Cistern:
The history behind the cistern is one that should be known
beforehand and there is plenty of information out there on it. But what that
information does not do is prepare you for the trip back into the past when you
descend below the city. It is a beautiful, dark, and damp maze of water, columns,
and medusa statues that is a must see for anyone going to Istanbul. It is
tranquil, even amongst the droves of tourists circulating through and even in
some places where the lighting is not bright, and one can imagine what it was like
thousands of years ago.
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| Tunnel in Basilica Cistern |
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| Medusa Head in Basilica Cistern |
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| Hagia Sophia |
Hagia Sophia
The wonder that is the Hagia Sophia is a story all on its
own. Once a church (that burned down not once but twice), then converted into a
mosque, and then into a museum, this place has been an icon for the travellers
for centuries. The building is massive and one of the best ways to see Byzantine
architecture. The mosaics are the big draw, but I fell in love with the height
of the building and just wanted to keep looking up. One particular feature that
I loved is the second level and the ability to look down and get a different
perspective of the building. After realizing that this is where a majority of
the mosaics are, I think that a number of people are too focused on seeing and
snapping photos of these (I took plenty myself) that they don’t take in the glorious
views looking down. The grounds are almost always under construction and don’t
be surprised to have scaffolding blocking some views, but there is so much to
see, that you seem to forget about it. It is one of the most expensive tourist
places to go, but definitely worth it.
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| Mosaics in Hagia Sophia |
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| From the second level in Hagia Sophia |
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| Blue Mosque at Night |
Blue Mosque
While one cannot go to the Hagia Sophia without seeing or
visiting the Blue Mosque, (they are adjacent to each other), they could not be
more different on the inside. The Blue Mosque is still a functioning mosque and
is one of the most popular mosques for both visiting and praying in all of
Istanbul. The domination of blue tiles, hence the name, make this mosque an
intriguing sight. I enjoyed sitting on the plush carpet and admiring all the
angles and colors, while (hopefully) gaining insight into this unknown world of
religion. This was my first functioning mosque that I had been to and I was
amazed by the sheer size and the upkeep of it. It seemed that even though
thousands of people trek through on a daily basis, the carpet was clean and
lush, the paint was pristine, and for being free to enter (a small donation box
was outside), it did not feel like being inside a building from the 15th
century. The forecourt outside of the mosque is a great place to sit and admire
this mosque from the outside. I happened to go there at night in between
prayers and could have sat there for hours (I was not the only one with this
thought, as a lot of photographers were sitting and admiring while snapping
away).
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| Inside of the Blue Mosque |
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| Detail in Blue Mosque |
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| Lamps in the Grand Bazaar |
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is a shopper’s haven for any need or want
from Turkey. It is massively crowded, but worth a trip to see all that it
offers. Lamps, leather goods, scarves, antiques, souvenirs, jewelry, tea sets,
or rugs-the list could go one forever, are stocked here and there are plenty to
take home for gifts for family and friends. Remember to haggle, even though I
did not see much of this going on from buyers. If you need a break from all the
shopping, there are some small shops that offer bites to eat or something to
drink. This offers a nice way to watch the inner-workings of the market and a
great way to rest your feet. My advice
for the more adventurous is to take to the side streets around the bazaar (it
is a wonderful place to get lost) and get even better prices from the outside
shops. But beware, there is not much English spoken. There is no need to haggle
because the prices are pretty much set and usually clearly marked.
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| Entrance to the Grand Bazaar |
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| Clothing in Grand Bazaar |
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| Galata Hill |
Galata Tower/Galata Neighborhood
When glancing across the Bosphorus, an unmistakable landmark
is the Galata Tower, in the trendy neighborhood of Galata. This chic and hip
area is on a giant hill and holds one of the best places for 360 degree views
of Istanbul. The small areas on the tower may be crowded, but just remember
that everyone is there for the same reason and patience is needed. The views
make up for the amount of people and I could have stood up there all day taking
in Istanbul. After viewing this amazing city, make time to explore the Galata
neighborhood. It has cute shops, cheap and delightful restaurants, and many
terraces to enjoy more views.
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| Galata Tower |
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| Sunset from Galata Tower |
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Spices at the Spice Market
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Spice Market
The Spice Market is quite small in comparison to the Grand
Bazaar, but it was more my cup of tea because it houses mostly food items. The
stalls contained spices, Turkish delight, nuts, dried fruits, olives, cheese,
tea, coffee, and other delightful offerings. I felt like a kid in a candy store
with all the treats it had to offer. I could not pass up buying some spices and
tea and was sad when the end of the market came too soon. But, to my delight,
there was an amazing street outside of it that had even more offerings of
deliciousness and there I found some wonderful pistachios for a snack. This is
definitely a “foodie” area to go to in Istanbul.
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| Turkish Lokrum |
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| Candy Stall in the Spice Market |
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| Süleymaniye Mosque |
Süleymaniye Mosque
The Süleymaniye Mosque is dominated in the skyline in most
pictures. It is located up on a hill in the Fatih area and because of its
location, one would think that it would be possible to get there easily. After
working my way through the intricate mazes of this old part of town and
climbing up slanted streets and stairways, I finally made it to the Süleymaniye
Mosque. It was worth the trip, as this was one of my favorite mosques. The
colors, angles, and sheer size; this being the largest mosque in Istanbul, took
me by surprise, even after visiting other mosques. Outside, there is a small
cemetery that is nice to walk through. It contains tombs of a few sultans and
their families.
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| Inside of Süleymaniye Mosque |
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| Arabic Gravestones |
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