![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A busy day again
Aug. 21st, 2009 07:08 pmSo, the first proper day of the holiday and we hit the tourist trail
First up, the Blue Mosque. This is a really simple open space on the inside, with a large area for people to pray and a few religious items. Gorgeous blue tiling, as the name suggests. Second, the Hagia Sophia which is looking good considering its nearly 1500 years old. Its in the middle of a massive restoration removing the plaster with which the turks covered all the Byzantine iconography (worshipping images not allowed in Islam). The main dome is suitable awe inspiring.
Even better as the Basilica Cisterns. This is a HUGE underground water storage area built by Justinian. Something like 24 rows of 12 pillars, each 9 meters tall. The pillars are mainly columns which were no longer in use on the surface so a real mix of styles. At the moment there's a foot or so of water and loads of fish. You access the whole thing from a small building on the surface.
Next up, the Grand Bazaar which is a chunk of the old city dedicated to a covered market. Hundreds of covered streets and thousands of stalls. Lots of haggling and being almost dragged into shops. This varies from being repeatedly talked at, to shopkeepers physically blocking you in the street and trying to steer you into their shop!
In the end I bought a hat for about 4 quid...
Got back to the hotel an hour or so ago and headed for the sauna. Ahh...
We don't have the stamina for more intensive tourism tomorrow so will probably take a cruise up the Bosphorous
First up, the Blue Mosque. This is a really simple open space on the inside, with a large area for people to pray and a few religious items. Gorgeous blue tiling, as the name suggests. Second, the Hagia Sophia which is looking good considering its nearly 1500 years old. Its in the middle of a massive restoration removing the plaster with which the turks covered all the Byzantine iconography (worshipping images not allowed in Islam). The main dome is suitable awe inspiring.
Even better as the Basilica Cisterns. This is a HUGE underground water storage area built by Justinian. Something like 24 rows of 12 pillars, each 9 meters tall. The pillars are mainly columns which were no longer in use on the surface so a real mix of styles. At the moment there's a foot or so of water and loads of fish. You access the whole thing from a small building on the surface.
Next up, the Grand Bazaar which is a chunk of the old city dedicated to a covered market. Hundreds of covered streets and thousands of stalls. Lots of haggling and being almost dragged into shops. This varies from being repeatedly talked at, to shopkeepers physically blocking you in the street and trying to steer you into their shop!
In the end I bought a hat for about 4 quid...
Got back to the hotel an hour or so ago and headed for the sauna. Ahh...
We don't have the stamina for more intensive tourism tomorrow so will probably take a cruise up the Bosphorous
