On Saturday the tourists are out in full effect, I had a flashback to some yelling on the metro about the appropriate stop;) love you dad;)... That said I was excited to see so much interest in the marvels of Instanbul. People are everywhere and we all look different. I would say that only about 10% of the other tourists are visibly westerners.
Senol and I (maybe I'll call him my turkish guide) took the ferry into the old town today and the wandered back to the grand bazaar. This is a huge mall type place which dates back to who knows when. There are different halls dedicated to certain products like the silver/jewelry area, the leather area (yee hah), the souvenier hall, denim and other materaial. It was very interesting to see the differnces/similarities between products here and products in India. There are alot of pillow cases, bed spreads, rugs but here they are predominantly patterns where in other places I could find humans depicted. And that is something also about the blue mosque/mosques v. churches, that symbols and words dominate muslim decor where as in christian churches we have figures. This because depictions of humanity detract from the worship of god.
That was tangential but something that I want to remember and you want to know. After the grand bazaar we went to the spice bazaar and back to the Asia side of Istanbul. After wandering the streets for a travel agent we ate some sandwiches of sorts and then called it an evening. Did you know it gets super hot here? Yesterday it was about 90 and humid so I bought a fan and slept really well.\
I have my tour booked for next Sunday going down the west coast of Turkey. Three nights in Feythe and three nights in Marmaris with daily jaunts on a catamaran to special places. My plan is to ditch the tour before it comes back to Istanbul and explore Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Chios then back to the city for the U2 concert. The no fixed plans part is about the dates being loose. Anyway I am looking forward to getting out there to the beaches...I have sunscreen mom! I'll talk with you later and thanks for the comments, it makes me feel connected in such a big world! I love you all
Good to read everything is fine. When I google mapped Maltepe Oz Sokak, Istanbul, Turkey, train stations show up - you are only about twelve miles (19 k) to old town by train, ferry, and subway. Close. The bazaar has it all, maybe some merchant families go back to Xerxes and sold rope and planks to the Persian army crossing the Hellespont that fought at Thermopylae in 480bc.
ReplyDeleteNoah's b'day party was yesterday, Liz/O'Real gave kites as party favors, which the munchkins tried to fly in the green next to the Hills' pool. Mom was instrumental in the munchkins' efforts - inspiring them to run fast and helping with kite rigging. Good party.
Now...I am starting to remember back when I took middle eastern history. Professor Hamdani took us to the smithsonian (Sackler Museum) to see all of the middle eastern artifacts. Most were from Turkey. Her one comment to us all was to remember that if you looked closely, the Muslim's art was made of the arabic alphabet whereas the Christian's art was made of peoples and figures. Honestly, I prefer the Islamic/Arab art. it is religion in disguise.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am sure you are enjoying buying amazing things in Turkey. Hopefully, for us all back in the States we will get some too!
Going back to the grind tomorrow........
OMG!!!!!! The colors are beautiful at the bazaar. I like Erin's comment about "buying amazing things for us. The Christian/Arab thing is new to me. Personally, I like the Arab style. Keep wearing your sunscreen!!!
ReplyDeleteKurt and Heather came to stay with us last week. We had a nice visit and they said to tell you hello. We may go up to see them and go wine tasting in McMinville the 1st weekend in Oct. to celebrate our anniversaries Their's is 10/3. I have a 4 day wknd then and Kurt said they make good wine there.
Got to run. Have to work today. Love you.
I am laughing out loud. How could we ever forget the UNofficial tour guide's knack for announcing our affiliation on each and every metro ride. For that matter, he continued to do his job on each and every CTA ride. I am confident the T was no different!
ReplyDeleteBut we never got lost, in Paris, Chicago, or Boston. When I took the China Town bus to/fro Boston and New York, my seat mate, a woman traveling with two daughters, was appreciative of my commentary on our location and my offer of the McDonald's potato cake, which she so politely declined. At least I think she was appreciative.
ReplyDeleteNow, New York, that's a subway system to get lost on - which I didn't but it did take longer than I expected to figure out. Maps anyone?
keep posting pics. love the colors!!!! i ate such good food in turkey...want to hear about your culinary excursions. miss ya, bestie! work is not the same without you but i am managing. :)
ReplyDelete