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Published: October 23rd 2010
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I had a few days to spare and decided to go to Istanbul. It was a welcome change to fly with Turkish Airlines. The flight took off at 2:15am and arrived at Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul at 6:15am. When I got to the Metro station at the airport I realised I needed change to pay for the ticket as I only had Turkish Lire notes. While I was wondering where to find some change, I saw one of the Turkish Airline Crew that operated the DOH-IST flight. I asked him for advice and he just said ‘Follow me’. He swiped his token and the gate to the Metro opened. He was surprised that I recognised him because he did not see me during the flight. While on the train he explained to me how to get to Sultanahmet and made me a list of tourist attractions to make the most of my time there.
When the tram stopped at Sultanahmet station my priority was to find a place to sleep for the night. The first place was way overpriced and the second place bargained with me until we were both satisfied. I took a shower and then hit the sites.
First was the famous Blue Mosque. It was built between 1609 and 1616 and is one of the most famous monuments of the Turkish and Islamic world.
Next I went to the Theodosius Obelisk. This obelisk is from the Karnak Temple in Luxor. It was brought to Constantinople in the 4th century after Egypt won the war over Mesopotamia. Next, the Obelisk where you will find the German Fountain that a German Emperor gave to Istanbul in 1898. The fountain was built in Neo-Byzantine style and decorated with golden mosaics inside.
I took a walk to the historic Topkapi Palace Museum which was the official and primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans, in the city. The sultans of the Ottoman Dynasty ruled over a vast transcontinental empire from 1299 to 1922. Administered at first from the city of Bursa in Anatolia, the empire's capital was moved to Edirne in 1366 and then to Constantinople (currently known as Istanbul).
Near my hotel I found the Basilica Cistern (Sunken Palace). It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns (reservoirs) that lie beneath the city to supply water to the palaces in the vicinity. This cathedral-sized cistern is an underground chamber approximately
138 m by 64.6 m capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 m high. Located in the northwest corner of the cistern, the bases of two columns blocks carved with the visage of Medusa. The origin of the two heads is unknown, though it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period.
After lunch I took a much needed nap and later took on the Grand Bazaar. This Bazaar is so big you just walk in any direction until you find another corridor and then you follow that one and so on...
Later that night, after visiting a bustling Turkish Sweet shop, I went to see a Turkish Dance Show that was very small and intimate making it worth seeing it. As I left the theatre the rain came down, cold and wet, I made my way back to the hotel as quickly as possible to be rewarded with a warm deep sleep.
Breakfast was great and way too much to finish and I got some more travel info from two German
ladies and off I went to go a boat trip on The Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is a sea canal between Europe and Asia that connects the Black Sea and (in short) eventually with the Mediterranean Sea. It is 31 km long. Built over the canal you will find the First Bosphorus Bridge, the first bridge to connect Europe with Asia. Down this canal one can find all kinds of buildings like castles, hotels, clubs, schools, universities and private houses. After the freezing trip on the Bosphorus I took the tram back to the Eminonu area to visit the vibrant spice market.
After lunch I went back to Sultanahmet and visited the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was used as a church for 961 years and as a mosque for 418 years. It has been a museum since 1935. Here I saw 9th and 12th century old gold mosaics. My final stop was again the Grand Bazaar where I sat and watched the people go by until it was time to get my bag and I took a crammed tram and train ride back to the airport for only 3TL (+- R15). This is the cheapest airport transport I have ever
used in the world...
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