August 8, 2018 (exactly 52 years after I came into this world), and I find myself walking the roads to Rome once again. This time its the streets of Istanbul for four days and three nights, a slight reprieve from my work in Saudi Arabia, now in its third year.
Two and half years of work in the Middle East and half because of laziness and half because that's just what you do in the Middle East, I have grown my beard out.
Istanbul is a modern city with sixteen million inhabitants and nearly as many tourists. Fortunately I nailed it by booking a hotel in Fatih, in the old city district of Sultanahme, which just happens to be where everything I needed was. This is Ayasofya, one of two major mosques and my hotel was right beside it.
This is the world famous blue mosque which is right across the square from Ayasofya.
Shoes off in the blue mosque!
Nearly three years in the Middle East and the habit of smoking shisha has definitely become a daily one, even while visiting Istanbul.
Blue Mosque
Grand Bazaar, only about 15 minutes walk from the Ayasofya and Blue Mosque, and moments on the tram which is super easy to use.
The Blue Mosque dominates the landscape in Fatih.
The Burned Column of Constantinople
One of many tourist attractions, the Basilica Cistern was an ancient Roman water reservoir, only recently discovered below the streets of Istanbul. I descended into the darkness to discover hundred of Roman columns, two of which used the heads of Medusa as pedestal bases and likely re-used and recycled from some other Roman Project.
One of the pulpits in AyaSofya
The Blue mosque in the back ground, taken from a window of AyaSofya in the foreground.
A ferry where the sea of Marmara meets with the Bosphorus Straight
Istiklal, one of many famous streets in Istanbul, especially for tourists looking for high end name brands.
Istanbul's metro is cheap and easy to navigate.
Narry a day passed that I didn't partake in the use of the water pipe.
Fresh shave and a haircut, ready to return to work :)
Roasted ears of corn is sold on most street corners for 3 Lyra (75 cents Canadian)
More wandering in the Grand Bazaar
A peak at the Sea of Marmara to the south of Istanbul
Best lentil soup ever!
Traditional apple, blue berry or regular tea is served just about everywhere
About 5 miles to the west of Fatih by tram, I discovered the abandoned Walls of Constantine, the old Roman fortified walls which used to surround Constantinople.
Last day in Istanbul and I spent a great deal of it wandering the Topkapi Palace, former home (1478ish) of The Sultan Mehmet the Conquerer.
I spent some time exploring his harem as well...
My final meal in Istanbul was a traditional Testi Kpap which is a clay pot cooked in a fire with a really nice chicken (or lamb) stew. MMmmmmm!
