Blogs from Turkey, Middle East - page 405

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Middle East » Turkey » Southeastern Anatolia February 3rd 2007

We woke the next day, feeling somewhat seedy after no having showered for about 5 days. Our mission was to get cleansed at a Hammam- a Turkish bath house. Firstly we took a merry stroll around the city of Sanilurfa. The town has seen many people of religious significance both Muslim and Christian pass through its ancient streets. It is claimed to be the birthplace of Abraham and apparently Jeasus dropped in at some stage. Dominating the town is a massive citadel perched high on a hill overlooking the city. When we were there its grey walls that ran about 300m acrross the hill were covered with a fresh layer of snow. A novelty for me thats for sure. Below the citadel in the bustling bazaar district (opened for business around 1560) you can buy all ... read more
Sanilurfa
Rosey red cheeks and all
Sacred carp

Middle East » Turkey » Central Anatolia » Ankara February 1st 2007

Tekrar selammmm Eveeeet.... pek çoğunuzun bildiği üzere yaklaşık 5 ay aradan sonra ilk defa Ankara'ya geldim, 10 günlüğüne. Şimdiden görüşemediklerimden özür diliyorum. O kadar insanı görmeme rağmen göremediğim de bi o kadar war. Her neyse, Uzun bi aradan sonra Türkiye'ye, özellikle de Ankara'ya gelmek ilaç gibi geldi. (halen benim gibi gurbette olan arkadaşlara tawsiye ederim) ancak biraz sarsıcı olabiliyo, insanın pek dönesi gelmiyo:)) çok sık gitmemek lazım. Malumunuz bu 10 gün, yiyip içip gezmekle geçti... detaylara girmeye gerek ama sonuç: Ankara'da 3 kilo aldım, 3-4 aylık rakı ve nargile ihtiyacımı depoladım vs. Muhtemelen sadece 5 ay uzakta kalmamdan dolayı, Ankara hiç değişmemiş gibi geldi. Yani klasik gurbetçi tribi yaşamadım, "way be buralar noolmuş" gibi... Aaaa, tabi ki İ.Melih Gökçek alt we üst geçit çalışmaları hariç. Cinnah-Tunalı-Bahçeli arası hiç 50 dakika sürmemiş... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 22nd 2007

Well my last full day I spent walking down a street called the Iskidal Cadesi. It is on the other side of the Bosphorus and I took a tram and then a Funicular to get to Taksim Square the beginning of this walk. (Did I tell you that I have been following the walking tours outlined in the Lonely Planet city guide for Istanbul?)This walk takes about 6 1/2 hours and fortunately it is all down hill! THat area of Istanbul is WAY different from where I stay. It is very European ... quite Italian actually. The buildings are more modern (only 2-300 years old) and they are large but in the spirit of FLorence or Genoa. I was intrigued by the number of churches , (Catholic,orthodox ,polish ,Byzantine) and the shopping . Really the street ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 20th 2007

Yesterday the sun was shining in the morning and I was able to get on the ferry for the 10:30 trip down the Bosphorus . This is a pretty big boat! It is used primarily for this journey. The trip is 32 km long and stops several times on the way to the Black Sea. FORTUNATELY it is a big boat that rides quite well in those areas that are affected by larger waves. ..where it meets the Sea of Marmara on one end and the Black Sea on the other. At one time the only dwellings were the castles, palaces,summer homes and estates of the rich and the famous some built as early as the 1500 and they have been building there ever since. There are also mosques dating to the same time period.It was ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 18th 2007

Today I was fortunate to spend time in a church that was built in the 1100's and decorated in the 1300's. Since then it was coverted into a mosque for a few centuries which means that the mosaics and the frescoes were plastered over for there can be no images in a mosque's decor.Fortunately the building became a museum and the Byzantine Church was able to fund and restore the splender of the mosaics and many of the frescoes. They are truly marvelous. The work is dedicated to Mary and Jesus and portrays standard stories (birth ,miracles ,geneologies,temple stories) but others I had never heard of .The giving of a stick with young shoots indicating Joseph as Mary's fiance,Mary in the arms of her parents,bidding farewell to family members...they must be part of the orthadox tradition. ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 16th 2007

Istanbul contınues to delıght.I spent yesterday ın Topkapi .I guess I never realızed how large a complex ıt ıs. At some poınts ıt housed more than 500 people. The prıvate lıvıng quarters (the Haram) was/is truly amazıng.The tiles ,stained glass, gold leaf ,inlayed mother-of-pearl are opulent . Way more so than anything I have seen in England . More Oriental than Europian I guess.I fınd ıt quıte amazıng that the Sultans were really the sons of slaves!The women of the haram were slaves from many parts of the world. They were not muslim for a muslim could not enslave a muslim...Interestıng. Last night I went to an original Turkish Haman (bath house) for an authentic experience.WOW! .After about 30 miutes on a heated marble platform I was scrubbed and exfoliated with a mitten then massaged with ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 13th 2007

The flights and the day were realy quite uneventful.Just a long day...however the arrival was a bit of a jolt.!All that careful packing and throwing my jacket into checked baggage at the last minute and lo and behold my case didn't make it here at the same time I did. Thank goodness I had a change of clothes and the essentials in my dy pack. I found my hostel without much trouble and it is a funny little place centrally located and staffed by kind and helpful people . I walked for hours in the neighbourhood and realized that I am very near the Grand Bazaar . The city itself is really unique. Not like any I have been in before.I like that! This morning after sleeping 11 hours (thanks to a sleeping pill) I was ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 10th 2007

Why yes, Turkish Airlines, I'd love a three day layover in Istanbul! I spent the next 10 minutes staring at a map trying to deduce whether I'd have enough time to sneak into Iran. Turkey's a pretty big country for European standards. Iran would have to wait. Luckily Istanbul was so much cooler than I was expecting, and I had high expectations for it. Istanbul is massive, it's the only city that sprawls across two continents: Europe and Asia, it's the definition of East meets West, and there's a mind-boggling amount of history. This was my first time being in a Muslim country but definitely not the last (I'm looking at you, UAE folk!). The calls to prayer are really neat. Even the ones at 5 AM. Check out my vids! On being a SWF in ... read more
Breakfast view
Blue Mosque
Turkish man

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 10th 2007

Some photos on foods and drinks.... read more
Grill Lamb
Grill Chicken
Bread

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul January 10th 2007

Some photos not shown in the previous blog for sharing with you all. ... read more
Street 02
Street 03
Street 04




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