Gliding down the calm waters of the Bosphorus strait, enroute to one of the world’s oldest cities, I feel a sense of excitement rise within me. The soft glow of the morning sun reflecting on the mirror like water and the soft sea breeze blowing, makes me drift away a few thousand years ago. I imagine a city, filled with treasures and tales of the ancient world.
When I think of Istanbul, I am captivated by old world splendour, empires, Sultans and their great palaces, harems filled with belly dancers and much more for my imagination to run away with.
Research shows that Istanbul’s first inhabitants date back as far as the second millennia BC. They settled on what is known as the Asian side of the city under the rulership of a Megara King Byzas who duly named his colony the Byzantium’s, which is a Greek name for a city on the Bosphorus.
Having undergone constant sieges and battles of power, this city; steeped in history has been ruled by many. It was however the Ottoman Turks who took over the last rule in 1453 and their reign lasted until after World War 1, where allied troops occupied. After years of struggles between occupying forces, The Republic of Turkey was born and Istanbul has grown into a unique modern city.
Today Istanbul caters for every individuals need. Whether you are interested in culture, music, sport, business or education, Istanbul has got it and believe you me if they don’t have it, they will get it for you. The business-like mentally of the Turkish always seems to amaze me. The currency is Turkish Lira and generally you will be able to get good value for your money.
With so much to do in this sensational city, I would highly recommend that you diarize all of the activities that you want to do and the sights that you want to visit. Major sights can get extremely busy and it would be wise to start your morning early as the queues of people move so slowly, it reminds me of a snake charmer trying to lure his lazy snake and watching it unwind slowly before your eyes.
I have been fortunate enough to visit Istanbul on numerous occasions and have been able to see sights on a leisurely pace.
Transportation, whether it be public or private is fairly inexpensive and readily available. Whether you are driving on the roads or are in a taxi, buckle up and take a sedative because these Turks don’t mess around! I couldn’t help but notice that on my first taxi ride into the city, my white knuckles, pounding heart and sweating forehead were definitely signs on anxiety. Be prepared to have an advanced driving course behind your name or to be as tough as nails and not bat an eyelid as you can count the grey hairs on the taxi driver in the car ahead of you, because time is money in Istanbul and you’ll get to your destination as fast as the taxi is able to push over the car in front of you, out of the road.
Now I LOVE to shop and it will come as no surprise that the very first place I ever visited in Istanbul was the one and only, glorious Grand Bazaar. With vibrant colors draped throughout this bazaar, gold glistening from every nook and cranny, the hustle and bustle of buyers and sellers, this is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world.
Being located on the crossroads of trade routes, since the beginning Istanbul had a thriving commerce, and bazaars were stocked to the brim with worldly items and traders ready on hand to bargain.
The Grand Bazaar includes more than 3 thousand shops and is visited by approximately 250 – 400 thousand people every day! The bazaar has an almost grid plan layout with shops that sell similar products grouped together. There are approximately 61 streets, 4 fountains, 2 mosques, several cafes and a police station inside the bazaar and it will come as no surprise that on your first visit, you are guaranteed to get lost in this labyrinth. Whether you are merely taking a leisurely stroll through the bazaar, absorbing the Turkish hospitality or trying your hand at the old-fashioned art of bargaining, it is certain that there is a little something for everyone inside! If you are looking for the latest genuine fake Gucci handbag, tremendous Turkish carpets, hand carved chess boards elegantly decorated with Ottoman Turk history or gold jewelry, variety is vast. Shop owners or their assistants will stand outside and lure you into their shop, telling you that they have something special for you to see and that the price would be just right for you. They will amazingly speak your language, even if it is just the basic greeting phrase.
Another Bazaar that I frequented during my visits to Istanbul was the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the Spice Market. As per the namesake, the Spice Market is home to approximately 86 shops, row after row of spices, dried fruits, nuts, teas, essences and sweets. This is certainly a sensory seduction as your eyes behold mountains of spices. This is no lie; the colors are breathtaking and the spices are displayed in front of the entrance to each shop. You simply cannot walk past each shop without having to stop and look at the spices on display and smell them. If you want to purchase, you are allowed to scoop away at the Spice Mountains and sample them. The quality is second to none, spices available for purchase range from golden cinnamon, robust red curry powders, mixed herbs and the sultans’ saffron.
The aroma of mixed spices, teas and food stalls inside this little bazaar leave you ravenous and if you do not succumb to the tempting treats inside, you will be pleased to learn that just outside you will find a food market with all of the Turkish delicacies you could wish for.
This is truly an unforgettable experience.
Shopping is a culture in this city and there are many other smaller bazaars and old shopping sites that you can visit during your stay, as well as ultra-modern shopping malls that carry some of the finest brand names.
After a tiresome shopping marathon, why not indulge at a local Hammam. A traditional Turkish bath was an everyday ritual and a social gathering. Men and Woman have separate sections and a basic Turkish bath would have a cold section or otherwise known as a dressing room, a hot area with washing basins and large heated marble platforms in the middle and private bathing cubicles around the room.
Be sure to experience a soap massage and you will be exfoliated, scrubbed and massaged from head to toe. A real treat, only for fans of deep tissue massages!
Looking for a bit more history? Why not visit the Blue Mosque. Well known among tourists for its bluish interior decoration, it is the most important mosque in Istanbul. It stands next to the Byzantine Hippodrome in the old city center and faces another well-known structure, namely The Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque was built by Ottoman Sultan Ahmed between 1609 and 1616. When mosques were built in this ancient city, they were not only designed for worshipping but to serve the community. This mosque was built as a complex, to include a theological school, a kitchen for the poor and bazaar shops to raise money for maintenance purposes. What makes this mosque so spectacular is the architectural design. Boasting 6 minarets, four of which have 3 balconies each and the remaining 2 have two balconies on each, making that a total of 16 in all. These are reached by spiral staircases not for public use and these balconies are used to call Muslims to prayer five times a day by the Muezzin.
The exterior and interior of this mosque could only be described as one of a kind and I feel that even if copied no-one could claim the elegance it holds. Whether you enter the mosque for religious purposes or simply for having it checked off your places to see list,, entering this mosque leaves you feeling over-whelmed as this massive interior with one central dome which is surrounded by smaller domes and semi domes, supported by four huge pillars, will soon leave you in awe as you notice the exquisite walls, which are decorated with traditional handmade Iznik tiles, stained glass windows and calligraphy art of Koranic verses and Turkish rugs which cover the entire mosque floor. One of the most spectacular sights is the Sultans lodge where he used to pray in private away from the general crowd. This is lavishly decorated fit for only a Sultan, with the finest gold and marble. Seeing such sights truly captivates me.
A stone throw away leads you to what I think is a much underrated architectural beauty. What once was an Orthodox Church and later a Mosque is today a Museum. The Hagia Sophia is truly a preserved diamond in the rough and has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The Hagia Sophia is a fine example of how two different cultures have been blended to form true beauty. The main attraction is the magnificent dome, which boasts another two half domes. The interior, which is richly adorned with verses and images from the Orthodox Christians and Muslims. Here you will find images depicting the Virgin Mary, Jesus, Saints and Emperors and Empresses, together with traditional handmade mosaic and verses from the Koran. The merge of the two religions set in an ancient building is prominent and peaceful. As you wonder throughout this dome, you pick up an aura of a mystical sense, the richly adorned interior, marbled mosaic balconies and hidden staircases certainly attribute to this. But what adds to this sense of mystery are the 4 painted Seraphim’s (God’s Protector Angels with 6 wings) inside the dome. During the reign of the Orthodox Church, these Seraphim’s faces were displayed for worshippers to see. It was during the Ottoman Turk rule these faces were covered with 6-7 layers of plaster. 160 years of being covered, only one of the Seraphim’s faces has been revealed. Restoration to the Hagia Sophia is constantly underway and one can only wait with bated breath for the remaining 3 Seraphim’s faces to be revealed.
There is much more to the Hagia Sophia than just the astonishing interior of the dome, once you enter you will be mesmerized by the sections she hold.
Last but certainly not least, one of the splendors of Istanbul has got to be the Grand Palace. Guided tours of the palace are recommended and so is the audio tour which you can purchase on the palace grounds. Having used the audio guide, I felt as if I was transported into the realm of Sultans, Emperors and concubines. Not enough praise can be given to the Turkish tourism board for a job well done, as this audio guide explains each section of the palace with such detail it truly does leave you feeling as if you are part of the history. The palace entrance is arched and leads you through to the palace gardens. Kindly note that there are metal detectors and strict security to pass through before you can walk through these gardens. With the aid of numbered sections, you are able to punch in your section and receive full commentary wherever you choose to start. Throughout your tour, you will notice how influential the Sultans and hierarchy were. Walls and domes covered in the finest mosaic, spectacular stained glass, larger than life gold mirrors hang on the walls and crystal chandeliers leave you breathless. Marbled courtyards leave you imagining how ladies would gather in the afternoon sun and talk. Walking through the one of the many long hallways, leaves me imagining that I am a bellydancer, shimmying my way through this mighty palace. Here you will learn more about a Harem and it will leave you feeling pleasantly surprised, revealing how unfortunate young girls were taken or given away from their families. Overwhelming your senses with nothing but compassion and rage for these young girls, as your mind thinks only the worst. The twist in this story and how you are educated on this tour, teaches you how these young girls lives were saved and through education they were schooled in various subjects and raised to be upstanding young woman who were chosen to be either one of the Sultans wives or to be given away to a highly respected men of power and promised a life of well living.
As a visitor to this mighty city there is so much more to discover and it comes highly recommend to those of you with an active, thirsty mind for knowledge. I simply cannot find enough words to describe this vibrant versatile old world city.
One of my favorite treats would be to sit and enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee and a piece of locum. After all of the sightseeing and information overload, I enjoy watching and absorbing the Turkish culture. The locals claim that by not drinking all of the coffee in your cup and by leaving the coffee bean residue at the bottom, turning it upside down onto your saucer and turning it clockwise, you are able to tell your future by the picture the residue leaves. I’m almost certain that I saw a world map like figure and I am hoping that is an indication of many more travels to come.
I believe that it is through education and travel that are minds are liberated and this can set one free and breakaway from the average train of thought. Allowing you to be thankful and admirable for being able to absorb history and culture that is presented to you through travel.
Ladies and Gentlemen I only hope that you can appreciate the Immortal Istanbul that I have had the pleasure to experience.
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