Turkey Day 1 and 2

Coby picked us up from the airport.  I was surprised that there wasn't more security there.  We got our passport stamped without being asked a question. In the past when I have gone out of the states it feels like I got interrogated, but not this time.  We didn't see Coby until we left the airport and for some reason I couldn't remember that part.    Coby lives around an hour and a half from the airport when there is traffic.   Kara and I both had our very large suit cases (there were around 39 pounds, but they had stuff for Coby in them).  I was very grateful Coby could help us with our suit cases as it seemed like we got on and off five buses--seriously I think we did.  Also, while getting on the buses we had to carry our suit cases up two flights of stairs and then back down.  Oh also, did I mention that Coby is a super fast walker.

The first thing I noticed about Turkey is that we were being stared at, mostly because of our suit case I am sure, but also because we were so different looking.  Also, I have NEVER in my life every seen so many people on one bus.  We were squished like sardines and the bus driver drove CRAZY.  If we weren't holding on to the handle above I thought we would fall over.  After we got off all of the buses we walked to Coby's apartment.  It was at least a 20 plus minute walk, but it also could have been because we hadn't really gotten any sleep for 40 hours and were walking like zombies.

We were so happy to get inside Coby's apartment. It was so clean.  After getting situated a little we went to get a bite to eat, literally across the street.   There is a restaurant on every corner.  Then we went back to our apartment to plan our next day and to get a good night's sleep!

Turkey Day 2 

We woke up early and got dressed for a full day.   First thing that morning we decided we would eat later as we wanted to get going to the sites.  This is the only day we did this as we were starving! went out to eat.  We had a ( forgot the name)  I am sure Coby will let me know what we had.    The food is so cheap in Turkey.  A meal that would have cost us $30 in Utah seemed to be just under $10.   After eating we walked to the Boat shuttle.  Istanbul is divided into two sides.  One side is in Asia and the other side is in Europe.  Coby lives on the Asian side and for our planned activities we were going to the European side.   It was a beautiful day!  On our first day there we visited the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Bascillica Cistern, The Grand Bazaar, and the Mosque of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent.  It was a very busy day!

 Our view from the boat--it was GORGEOUS!

Before first entering into the Mosque Kara and I bought a head scarf.  All women must be covered when entering the mosque and we also had to take off our shoes.    While we were walking around they started the call to prayer which is a formal worship in Islam. The men sing it very LOUDLYprayer to Allah.  Five times a day in Turkey they broadcast  over the intercom (and it is loud) the call to prayer. Quickly after the Muslims bow down to prayer.  The men wash their feet and go to the closest Mosque to bow down.  It was beyond fascinating to watch and it was a very beautiful ritual to witness.    Below I have included what a prayer might sound like. 
"O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light. "

We entered the Blue Mosque.  The mosque is known for its blue tiles that adorn the walls of the interior.  This building was built in 1609 to 1616 during the rule of the Ahmed I.  This mosque is still used as a mosque today.  

 The court yard outside of the Blue Mosque

 After we got out of the mosque we ate lunch.  One of the things that is typical for a drink in Turkey is a greek yogurt drink. It is very salty and very different. The first sip I had I thought it was terrible, but the flavor did grow on me.  The Turkish people eat a very healthy Mediterrean Diet.  

Later went to a Mosiac Musuem.  We were able to buy a tourist pass which allowed us to go in all the sites for a much lower price. It also gave us 20% off of other tourist locations. 

Next we went to the Hagia Sophia mosque.  This is no longer a practicing mosque, but a museum.   From the date of its construction in 537 until 1453 it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral.  It was opened as a museum in 1935. It is so beautiful and the pictures don't do it justice.

 There were doing some work on the building. Underneath some of the walls that were painted they were able to find pictures of Christ, John the Baptist and Mary.  

 The picture they are trying to recover above and what it really looks like below. 

After this mosque we went to he Basilica Cistern.  It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city ofIstanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey. The cistern, located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of the Hagia Sophia.  This was built in the 6th Century.   There some movies that are filmed in tis and I can understand why from going there as it is very different. 

Next we went to the Grand Bazaar.  This is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops.  They average between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors a day.   This was crazy!!!!  Kara and I thought we liked shopping until we went inside.  There are very aggresive shop owners that will hound you.  We didn't stay in this shop very long.  Coby was very kind to take us there as he didn't like it and I can see why.  

 After this we went to another Mosque.  This one was called the Mosque of Sultan Suleyman (Beyazit,  suleymanieye camii) and it is Istanbul's largest and grandest.  It was designed by the Ottoman Empire and it overlooks the Golden Horn bridge and is just north of Istanbul University.  After we went there we finally went out to eat; we were famished again.  I honestly don't know what we ate, but I remember it was delicious.    We headed for home after this. We had been gone for 12 hours and we seriously had walked at least 12 to 15 miles and we were all tired.  Coby was an excellent tour guide and we learned so much!!!  It was a fun filled day.