Temperature – early twenties to mid-twenties
Photo: David and Cameron outside Hagia Sophia.
Photo: David at the Wishing Column.
Photo: Aubergine moussaka....very delicious!
Photo: Desley and I with our granddaughters' pink froufrou!
Photo: Choosing the Turkish Delight!
Photo: At the Spice Market.
Weather – sunny with afternoon breeze
Today was our first full day in Istanbul and we planned to walk around and get our bearings. Our plan was to visit the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar both on the ‘must do’ lists of Istanbul.
We met a group of people in the hotel foyer who had just completed the same Peregrine trip we are going on. They absolutely loved it and gave us quite a few tips for Istanbul – particularly helpful was the location of the laundromat just around the corner.
Armed with their directions to the Hagia Sophia we followed the tram line up the hill past many exciting little shops filled with tiles, rugs, jewellery and souvenirs.
We emerged into the square fronting the Hagia Sophia Museum, bought our tickets and very wisely also purchased the audio guide. Already it was very busy with tourists. The basilica is the largest Byzantine church in Istanbul and was completed in 537AD (two previous constructions were destroyed by fire and riots). It is jaw-droppingly huge and measures 78 metres by 72 metres and is 56 metres to the centre of the dome. We moved slowly with our audio guides taking in the history and snapping photos. There is a holy spot called a Wishing Column where a prophet is said to have turned the church on the spot to get the correct direction. Since then visitors have placed their thumbs through the hole in a circle and made a wish….so we all made our wishes. The copper sheeting has worn away and so has the marble underneath which has formed a hole from so many people making their wishes.
We had spent quite a few hours at Hagia Sophia and when we emerged we were glad that we had visited reasonably early as the tourists were crowding in!
A little way along we stopped for a delicious lunch and a much needed sit-down. I tried aubergine moussaka which was delicious as was the other dishes ordered. We finished up sharing a yummy Turkish dessert (didn’t want to order four and hate the lot!) called “chicken breast” which was a creamy firm texture with burnt brown sugar on top – a little like a very firm crème caramel. Our first apple tea went down very well.
Our next stop was the Grand Bazaar and we spent about fifteen minutes finding it as well as looking at the beautiful shops on the way. The area was very clean with displays of flowers on the lamp poles and grassed areas.
We had heard so many stories of the Grand Bazaar (a 15th century medieval labyrinth of 4000 shops) and we were really looking forward to it. We were immediately overwhelmed with the busyness of the place and decided to separate as couples as it seemed hard to keep together. The shops sell everything from carpets, jewellery, antiques, souvenirs, pottery, tiles etc. Owners ask you all the time to see their wares and we quickly figured out it was easier to keep walking. David and I became completely lost after surveying about five rows and ended up on the outside circling! Eventually, we found our way back in and bumped into the Trees – a bit of a miracle really considering how big it is. We were like wide-eyed rabbits in headlights and were so excited to see each other. I think the Tree’s won with best selling touting line: “let me sell you something you don’t want”. A sit down was in order so we wandered up one of the aisles David and I had been before and had coffees, teas and baklava. Above us were vaulted ceilings 500 years old!
As Team Oz we developed some courage and David haggled for the purchase of a t-shirt. As the bravest member of our team he also bought a lovely piece of jewellery which Desley had admired and tried on…..the rest of us watched from up the alleyway out of sight…brave people that we were!
It was then on to the Spice Market which took us up back alleys of merchants selling amazing arrays of clothing from the long coats the Muslim women wear to wedding dresses that make My Big Fat Greek Wedding look like a spinster’s party! Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos!
Desley and I then got carried away with some outrageous little dresses for our granddaughters…..David once again haggled and we got a good deal (well, we thought so but the dealer is probably still smiling!). Not sure how we are going to transport these pink froufrou but Grace and Ella-Rose are going to look like wedding cakes!
The Spice Market was fun and we purchased Turkish Delight – which we ate as we wandered and nuts (sesame coated peanuts and lemon salted pistachios). The aisles led us to the Bosphorous River promenade and we had a peek into the Yenicamii Mosque where men were cleansing themselves at basins from a circular font. A wander over to the river followed and we watched men in swaying boats cooking fish on large hot-plates and then passing them to the customers in bread rolls with salads. I’m sure the flavour was enhanced by the cigarette smoking chefs!
We discovered we weren’t far from our hotel so we decided for a late afternoon drink at the Irish pub where prices were pretty outrageous. Undaunted the team are heading there for the Broncos/Sea Eagles game at lunchtime tomorrow.
As we were heading back to the hotel we purchased an amber pendant at a shop. The dealer was a lovely fellow from Pakistan.
Another day over…..and so much more to do!
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