Asia

Istanbul is separated by the Bosphorus Sea, with half of the city in Europe and half in Asia. Our hotel is in a busy area of Istanbul on the European side. We have been curious about what we might find in Asia and yesterday we decided to check it out by taking a local ferry on the Bosphorus.


Surprisingly, the city does not look much different on the "other" side. We expected more poverty and slums, but were pleasantly surprised when we found wide boulevards and many street cafes. The local markets are more unique and exciting, servicing the restaurants across the street.....Alice ordered the small chicken and Fred wanted the goat's head. Jim and I were innocent bystanders!




The trams are older and slower and yet they have mini taxis called Dolmus which will take you to designated areas for 1.5 Turkish Lira [.80 C].



The ferry system, along with the tram system, are very easy to use in Istanbul. We have been walking most places but sometimes we need to get farther than even our legs can take us.

Topkapi Palace

We spent one rainy morning at the Topkapi Palace and were amazed at the riches on display. The treasury had valuable jewels, daggers, thrones and other lavish gifts on display. Pictures are not allowed in that area.

We spent the first part of the morning at the harem where the Sultan housed his concubines, eunuchs, and his mother. To me this was the most impressive area of the palace. The tile work was precise and colourful. The first picture shows the seating area where the Sultan would receive guests and dignitaries.



When the call to prayer is given you can see many men entering cleansing areas (which are all over the city) to wash their hands and feet before entering the Mosque for prayers. Women do not join in this ritual.

Whirling Dervish

We attended a Whirling Dervish performance tonight and I think I can speak for us all when I say it was great. The ceremony was solemn and quite intense. The music was excellent and the dancers were very spiritual, almost like being in a trance.

The Whirling Dervish celebrate their Islamic beliefs through the dance which has many different religious movements. According to one member of our group, they make 48 revolutions per minute - of course, he was dizzy by the end of their routine!

The Streets and People of Istanbul

Yesterday was a day of wandering, meeting new people, trying new food and getting to know the city. The pictures tell it all.



Eating and receiving a massage at our favourite restaurant.



A game of backgammon and a street vendor selling lottery tickets.



The view from atop the Galata Tower. Magnificent!


"Discussing the price!"



View from the Galata Bridge, along with the men fishing from the bridge.



Eating pickled cabbage and dills and then drinking the juice. Better than it sounds...try telling that to Alice!


Roasted corn on the cob.



The Turks, young and old, love to have their picture taken.



Our room was two floors below Alice and Jim's.

Blue Mosque

We did it! A first! Alice had to take a nap this afternoon - we walked her to sleep!! Actually, anyone with the name Humeny or anyone married to a Humeny took a nap today.


She spent days assembling her mosque attire. I, on the other hand , was allowed in with capris and a baseball cap. Notice the lack of shoes!

OK, LET ME ADD SOMETHING HERE.... after spending time at the Grand Bazar yesterday purchasing beautiful scarves for Colleen and myself, we did not bring them this morning as we decided that we would NOT go to the Blue Mosque today. However once we got near it we decided to check "the rules" and before we knew it were in line going in. Since I did not have the scarves I was provided shawls, not only for my shoulders but for my legs. Did I mention it was warm in there?



We toured the Ayasofya Museum and the Blue Mosque this morning without much of a break. They were both very interesting and well worth the time.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was great for wandering the back streets of Istanbul. Merchants are very polite while trying to draw you into their shop. They often offer tea and a chair while displaying their carpets or whatever they are selling.



The street scene is near our hotel and is very typical of the narrow alleys that have numerous shops and cafes. The young gentleman was making and selling Turkish candy on the street near the Blue Mosque.

Istanbul Arrival

The only way to fly! Waiting for our flight in Prague in the first class lounge. Notice the champagne on the table at 10:00 am.



The hotel we are staying at sent a driver to pick us up at the airport and I can see why. The winding, steep and narrow roads were like a maze and would be impossible for the novice to negotiate.

Alice and Jim met us at the hotel and we went for a short walk to get a feel of the area. The hotel is in a perfect location and will serve us well.

We are presently sitting in the Red River Pub drinking beer and eating Turkish tapas while watching the soccer game with many soccer fanatics.

St. Vitus Cathedral

We had all but given up seeing this landmark, but yesterday we decided to try again and only had to wait 30 minutes before being allowed in.

It was well worth the wait as St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and the most important church in Prague. It was founded in 1344 but not completed until 1929 and is the burial place for Czech rulers. It also houses other valuables – medieval paintings and religious artifacts etc.



We decide to take the tram back to our hotel and were caught up eating street food when the tram arrived and of course, we hopped on the wrong one. We stayed on for an hour and saw a completely different city - many of the areas had a communist look [if there is such a thing] to them. Very interesting and one of the best free tours we had.