Old.Istanbul Feb 8

The day started with huge snowflakes and cold temperatures! Felt a bit like home!

We met our tour guide Emel a wonderful and very knowledgeable woman at 0930 and started off on foot as we are within walking distance of all of the sights. We learned first off that the Blue Mosque which we had looked forward to seeing is closed for renovations! Sigh...we could only look from the outside.

So our first stop was the Topkapi Palace, a combination living quarters for the Sultans of yore and the place of business for government officials.  We entered through the first gate where we saw the government buildings.

Officials would meet here to discuss the business of the day, but had to be very careful as a window in the wall allowed the Sultan to listen but be unseen. Thus the officials never knew whether he was there or not. Their lives were very much at risk if they were overheard saying the wrong thing.

Behind the government buildings were the harem buildings and baths.  We learned that the word harem means forbidden, which the women certainly were to all but the Sultan.

The streets are wide, having been used by horses, and are lined by Eucalyptus trees.

In some of the anterooms are displays, one of fantastic clocks that were given as gifts and used by the Sultans. 

The second contained weapons. The gem encrusted treasures were amazing.

Then we proceeded through the second gate called the Fidelity gate. This leads to the audience chamber where petitions could be heard by the Sultan.   His throne was on display.

The private residence included a library and hospital and other Pavillions used by the Sultan and his family. 

From the balcony the Bosphorus and the "New" city of Istanbull could be seen on the shores of the river. Then the snow cloased in and we beat our retereat.

We stopped at a café which is located in the old palace's police station for a turkish tea and typical, traditional snacks.   (It is small wonder that police were required as there were 4,000 peolpe in residence during slow times and up to 60,000 during busy periods.) I had quince for the first time ever and Paul had a type of rice pudding.

Our next stop was the Hagia Sophia Mosque.  This was very interesting, having been built originally as a wooden church in the year 600 (approx) by the Romans, then burnt down in civil unrest,  then rebuilt in stone and then destroyed once again, then rebuilt once again, later turned into a Mosque, then into a museum, and then returned to a Mosque.  Thus Christain symbols still exist

And also Muslim symbols all in the same building.

On our way out we saw a lovely mosaic of Mary and Jesus receiving the walls of Constantinople (now Istanbul) and the Hagia Sofia Mosque as gifts.

Then we grabbed lunch and made our way to the Grand Bazaar.  This is an amazing place with more than 4,000 stores and 66 "streets"...all under cover of a beautiful ceiling.

After this very full day we made our way back to the hotel.  Paul left for a visit to an authentic Turkish bath for a well deserved steam and massage.