Life Is A Road Trip: Week Four

Day 23, Sunday, December 26th. We flew for 5 hours on Emirates Airlines from Dubai to Istanbul covering 1,900 miles. On arrival, we were met by two women who work for Timur Ceylon, a Turkish friend of my sister and brother-in-law. Tugba and Gamze made us feel very welcomed. The four of us went to a wonderful fish restaurant for dinner that overlooked the Bosphorus Bridge which is all lit up at night. This bridge connects Europe and Asia.

Day 24, Monday, December 27th. We took a full day tour of the old city of Istanbul. The highlights were the Blue Mosque (world-renowned for its beautiful blue tiles), the Basilica Cisterns, the Grand Bazaar, the Topkcapi Palace (Imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans) and the Rustem Pasa Mosque. After being in the ultra-modern cities of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Dubai it was a pleasure to be in Istanbul, a city that has retained its old world charm and traditions. There are very few modern high rise buildings in Istanbul. While over 90% of the population is Muslim, Turkey seems to practice a lighter version of the religion. Most of the women in the other Muslim cities we have visited at least wear scarfs on the heads, but here most of the women we have seen on the streets do not cover their heads at all.

Blue Mosque

Inside Blue Mosque

Cistern

Medusa upside-down

Ci of Grand Bazaar

Turkish coffee - just like mud

Rustem Pasa Mosque

Topkcapi Palace

Day 25, Tuesday, December 28th. Istanbul is divided into the European and Asian sections. Yesterday we discovered the European past and today we explored the Asian side. The most spectacular sight was the Beylerbeyl Palace which was the summer home to the sultans. It is forbidden to photograph the interior of this remarkable palace, but its beauty surpassed many Western European palaces we have visited. In the afternoon, we cruised the Bosphorus along the European and Asian shores. In the evening, we dined on Turkish food at the restaurant on the top of our hotel which overlooks the Bosphorus Bridge and the city lights.

Bosphorus Bridge

Beylerbeyl Palace

Spice Market

Rumeli Fortress

Dolmabahce Palace

Mosque and Church

Day 26, Wednesday, December 29th. In the morning we explored the Dolmabahce Palace which was the third residence of the Ottoman Sultans until the Turkish Republic was created in 1929. Mustafa Ataturk, the first president of Turkey, lived in the palace until his death in 1938. No photos were allowed inside the palace, but it was magnificent. Attached it the palace is the residence of the Harem. The Sultan had four official wives who lived there along with 200 other women, including his mother. It was beautify but not as opulent at the Palace. In the afternoon, we visited Haghia Sophia, the marvelous Byzantine basilica built in the 6th century. When the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, the Church was converted into a mosque. Today it is a museum showing its Islamic and Christian past. No words can really describe the beauty of this remarkable building. It is one of the most visited sites in Turkey. We took two harrowing taxi rides in Istanbul – truly, like Goofy’s wild ride. We had an amazing fish dinner on our final night in Istanbul with Timur, Gamze and Tugba. Timur met my sister and her husband when he lived in the Bay Area. They gave us a beautiful Turkish coffee set.