The streets of Istanbul and a1600 year old church

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Driving through the streets of Istanbul, whether in a bus or taxi, the sights are always unexpected. April is 'tulip month' with tulips everywhere not just in parks but along old city walls, along busy streets, pretty much anyplace a bulb ( and there are over 14 million planted) can be stuck in the ground.

A few years ago, after a visit to Italy, I wrote a blog about beggars being a continual dilemma. I was surprised to see so many beggars in Istanbul - not around the mosques or tourist areas, but on the busiest ring road that goes around the city. I had not seen them on my two previous visits. They walk amidst the traffic standing aside the moving cars or in between them. It is a bit harrowing. One of the guides told us they were refugees from Syria who had fled the camps. Apparently, at the start of the Syrian war Turkey took in refugees, gave them food, a place to stay, money, and health care. Turkey thought it was a two or three month intervention. It has now been 3 or 4 years and over 2 million have come. Many are now seeking refuge in other parts of Turkey. It is a huge problem here. Hence, the beggars.

A ride in a bus also sees people selling items to drivers - not just water or tissues but huge bouquets of roses, wonderful circles of bread or pretzels, umbrellas, raincoats, fruit, - well an amazing variety of products. Fun to see but a bit dicey for the sellers.

After joining my tour group on Sunday night, we spent Monday doing a whirlwind tour of Istanbul ( exactly why I went a few days early). New for me was the Chora Museum - originally the Church of the Holy Savior built in the 5th Century. Time lines like those always blow my mind. It is a good reminder of what a new country the US is. Chora was originally part of a monastery complex. Earthquakes destroyed much of it but it was rebulit in the 1,300's. The amazing mosaics and frescoes date to that time. Around 1,500, after the fall of the city to the Ottoman's it was converted into a mosque. Islam prohibits iconic images so everything was covered with a layer of plaster, which unknowingly served to preserve them. This museum is well off the beaten part but well worth a visit.

I' m writing this on my ship and am not sure it will even send so I'm cutting it a bit short.

Carolyn/Gunga

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