Today is not, in fact, Tuesday

• Tobequitefrank's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Istanbul

Trip Start Jun 24, 2011 Previous
Entry Trip End Jul 14, 2011 Next
Entry

  Istanbul, Turkey
Sunday, June 26, 2011

After a day and a half in transit an arrival into the airport signaled the exciting beginning of the game - first would come the hustle and bustle of the city though, an experience I was not racing toward in my tired state. The metro was simple, the tram an easy option, and upon disembarking at my station I was greeted with... calm. Not the rages of the city. Not the ferocious fanfare of traffic. Not even the accosting dialogue of trinket merchants. I'll be damned if Istanbul isn't one of the most relaxed cities I have ever been to. Granted, it was early in the morning, but even as the day wore on and the tourists and vendors hit the pavement that sense of the noise and the press of bodies never made an appearance. Perhaps it is the aged Byzantine spirit permeating the stones and mosques and cobbled streets. Perhaps it is the cool sea breeze mediating the both Celsius and sentiments; whatever the cause, I have been most impressed by the simple calmness one experiences that has not been present in any other major city I have visited.
Another great Istanbul trait (I will try not to make this an extensive pros list) is the ability to wander unfettered by a map (so I my have accidentally back at the hostel) and experience sights and monuments at every turn; wıth spires of ancient mosques rising across the horizon all one has to do is set off toward one, check it out, pick another distant landmark and then continue on toward it. I perambulated across the majority of the Old Town for the most part of eight hours without a map and at no time lacked a direction or interest to view to occupy myself (my legs freaking hurt).
Notable places visited include Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Square and the Hippodrome, the Aquaduct and Istanbul University. The Blue Mosque is apparently the most remarkable of the mosques and I had made it a destination to visit; after searching the supposed location of this monument for some time and eventually conceding my quest I would later discover the colour was in reference to the interior and not exterior of the mosque - I had navigated around it some half dozen times without considering the significance of the decor, rather than the facade. The other error of the day came in the way of failing to locate the entrance to the Grand Bazaar - adamant that the use of the word 'Grand' would make it a somewhat significant landmark and quite easily found I chalked it up to being an incompetent tourist. It was Tuesday - where was the market? Upon later discovering it was Sunday, the day I was aware said Grand Market did not open for trade, the mystery of its location was solved (another place I had wandered around numerous times in confusion.
As always food remains a chief focus - pides, kebabs and all manner of sweets Turkish have been guzzled and yet await to be eaten. Much beer was consumed in the hostel, wıth a most entertaining argument (that I perhaps started) titled "Australia has the greatest psyche-up music ever" enjoyed by all. The group came to the consensus that the British do not have one song that could rouse the spirits beyond the level of 'comatose'; they were stoic in defeat and unperturbed by their lack of adrenaline-inducing tunes.
Some technical difficalties prevent the uploading of photos - hopefully to be resolved soon. Tomorrow sees a continued challenge to have the following conversation:
"Man, I love Turkish bread"
"Actually here we just call it bread"

Slideshow Share

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

The Sultan liked a view	Interior design   Comments!	German Fountain	Egyptian Obelisk
University	Aqueduct	Aqueduct again   Comments!	Memorial
Coastal views	Blue Mosque	Hagia Sophia

Previous Entry Next Entry