My 3 days short trip in an unforgettable city, Turkey, Istanbul.
Turkey is a historically rich city that has a geographically varied location. With a smaller part in Southeastern Europe and a larger part in Western Asia, Turkey forms the crossroads between Europe and Asia.
For this trip, I visited Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the 5th largest city in the world.
Pretty hues of dawn marks my arrival into the transcontinental city.
Hopping on a cab, I caught my first glimpse of the Bosphorus Strait. I was headed to the Asia side of the city where the hotel is located.
Quick bag dump at Double Tree Hilton Moda. The hotel is strategically located at the Marmara seashore , near ferry docks which is great for access to Istanbul’s European side that houses a couple of their famous historical sites.
Exploring the streets of Istanbul’s Asia side first.
The honey tasted exquisite, but costs like $200 per bottle if I remember correctly.
It was fun checking out their vibrant fresh produce, bakeries, tea houses and wishing I had a little more time to sit down for tea.
But we were off to take the ferry across to the European side for a walking tour of several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
It was a short 10 minutes ferry ride and as we approached, we saw our first destination, the Blue Mosque peeking out from above.
This means a hike uphill in the sweltering summer heat after disembarking from the ferry.
The Blue Mosque is located at the Sultanahmet Square and is one of the most famous religious buildings of the world. The mosque got its name from the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. Entrance into the Blue Mosque is via the arcaded forecourt and inside, there are more than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs that admit natural light and this is assisted by chandeliers.
Right opposite the Blue Mosque is the Hagia Sophia church.
The short walk was peppered with lots of local street stalls selling local bread, corn and even candy.
Hagia Sophia was once a church and, in a turn of events, became a Muslim Mosque. On the walls and ceiling, you are able to find both Islamic and Christian influences and features. Christian influences can be seen in the form of mosaics that depict Virgin Mary, Jesus, Saints, Emperors and Empresses. However, a huge portion of these mosaics were lost due to earth quakes.
From Hagia Sophia, we strolled to the Topkapi Palace. Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world. Due to time constraints, we were only able to visit the treasury, the richest jewelry collection in the world and they are all authentic originals. In it, you can even find the world’s famous 86 carat diamond. Security is tight and pictures were not allowed. I only have a blurred image of one of the many mind-blowingly huge diamonds. Besides diamonds, there are also other precious stones such as emerald and gold as well as gifts from visiting foreign monarch.
For me, the most impressive part of the Topkapi Palace was actually the stunning view that looks out to the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. But of course, there were alot more palace grounds that were left uncovered and this will have to wait till my next trip.
More walking to get to our next destination, the Grand Bazaar. The plus side of summer travels are the long daylight hours that allows you to fit a host of activities or destinations in a day. On the downside, it is super crowded and scorchingly hot.
Nonetheless, we found our way to the Grand Bazaar, the world’s oldest and largest covered street marketing, spanning 61 streets and over 3,000 shops!
There were lots of intricate glass stained lamps, pretty china wares, leather products amongst others. You can also rest our feet in one of the cozy tea shops along the way.
After exploring the Grand Bazaar, we took a quick tram ride to visit the Spice Bazaar, the centre of spice trade in Istanbul.
Although it is not as huge as the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar is equally as colorful and was buzzing with activities. Here, you can get your hands on a wide variety of Turkish Delights, Turkish teas, dried fruits, nuts, tea and even jewelry.
A short turn away from the Spice Bazaar is the Rustem Pasha Mosque, I believe. I did not manage to explore the inside of the mosque, but went to a restaurant that offered a pretty decent view of a busy evening in Istanbul with the sun casting a golden hue on the mosque as it set.
The many accompanying side dishes of a Turkish meal and my main dish of kebab, rice and grilled peppers on the side.
Ferry ride back to the hotel.
View from my room with a glimpse of the last rays of sun.
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