November 3,4,5, 2010
istanbul
It's true, the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia knocked my socks off today. The Hagia Sophia was the largest column free covered space for one thousand years. Completed in the 500s ad. The main dome is over 50 metres tall. Tomorrow we head back into the breach. A final foray to the grand bazaar.
One of the wacky things about turkey is that people are constantly using things that are hundreds or thousands of years old. Stuff is not behind glass and no entry fee is required. People live, pray, commute, shop, party and graze their animals in the crustiest spots. Why build a new bridge if the one your peeps have been using for 1800 years is still functional. Just replace a few bricks here and there.
So we actually made it out of the grand bizarre without buying anything. In fact we were given a kilim bag and a super funky pair of trousers (for ben) by a carpet guy. Once we mention that we bought a carpet in siirt we have them in the palm of our hand.
Jill showed some moxie today and got an unidentified street sandwich. Clare and I gave it a try (no dice). We think it was some organ meat.
We are very sad to be leaving istanbul and turkey. 10pm train to bucharest.
istanbul
It's true, the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia knocked my socks off today. The Hagia Sophia was the largest column free covered space for one thousand years. Completed in the 500s ad. The main dome is over 50 metres tall. Tomorrow we head back into the breach. A final foray to the grand bazaar.
One of the wacky things about turkey is that people are constantly using things that are hundreds or thousands of years old. Stuff is not behind glass and no entry fee is required. People live, pray, commute, shop, party and graze their animals in the crustiest spots. Why build a new bridge if the one your peeps have been using for 1800 years is still functional. Just replace a few bricks here and there.
So we actually made it out of the grand bizarre without buying anything. In fact we were given a kilim bag and a super funky pair of trousers (for ben) by a carpet guy. Once we mention that we bought a carpet in siirt we have them in the palm of our hand.
Jill showed some moxie today and got an unidentified street sandwich. Clare and I gave it a try (no dice). We think it was some organ meat.
blue mosque
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