It was raining lightly. We had 3 umbrellas among 4 of us. We brought a $5 one. Then we head to the ATM. I have read that we could get away with using US dollar shopping but need Turkish lira to buy tickets.
The pier is very close to the ATM. It is one of the locations from the old James Bond Moving "From Russia With Love". It is also called the Golden Horn. It is too bad that weather is not nicer to see the other side. There is a bridge next to the pier connecting the Golden Horn.
The train station is across the street from the pier. It is more than 100 years old. In this historical district, 100 years seem very young.After Roman emperor Constantine I (Constantine the Great) made the city the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire on May 11, 330, the city became widely known as Constantinople. He has ordered to build the Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia means "Holy Wisdom".
Hagia Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1000 years. It has been through earthquakes and fire, Hagia Sophia has been re-built. The building we saw is the 3rd building with about 1500 years of history. It is the best example of Byzantine architecture and has changed the history of architecture. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. Hagia Sophia today is a museum. Hagia Sophia was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike.
I have seen many pictures before. I have also seen it in the James Bond movie (From Russia With Love). However, nothing compares the impression I get once walking in. It is hard to describe with words.
Hagia Sophia is decorated with beautiful marbles in all colors. Its massive columns are made of whole marble too. The natural colors of marbles form soft contrast. The detailed carving made the decoration even more attractive. There are two very tall stories. It volume ceiling is full of colorful patterns. The upper right of the picture above is the nave of the building. There is a ring of windows at the base of the doom. Light from these window form splendid pattern inside of the building. Bad weather outside did not affect us to appreciate its beauty inside. There are several half dooms on the sides of the main doom. The middle left of the picture above is one of the half dooms. There are large religious signs in Turkish. It is too bad we can't read them. However, we still could appreciate the calligraphy.
There are many mosaic in Hagia Sophia. They are still in vivid bright color After more than a thousand years. The above is Virgin Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist. Mosaics has been damaged during the crusaid. Pieces were ripped from the walls.
This is the 2nd story. The floor is also made of whole pieces of fine marble just like the ground floor. It is hard to imagine how people were building without the heavy lift equipment we have today. There were not cutting machines back in those days either. How did they cut all the marbles so evenly and polished them so smoothly?
It is so grand looking down from the 2nd floor. Maintenance work were in the progress.
These columns down stairs were in the James Bond movie. It is hard to believe these massive and long columns are carved from a whole marble. I often wonder how people in ancient times with primitive tools could make rounded columns and make them all the same.
The Blue Mosque is across from Hagia Sophia. I can see the infuence in architecture from the Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque looks very attractive. There is a garden outside also.
There are beautiful stained glass windows and colorful decorations on the ceiling in the Blue Mosque too. However, I did not have the same deep impression as in the Hagia Sophia.
We went back to the hotel after visiting the Blue Mosque. It was 2 o'clock by the time we went to the restaurant across the street from the hotel to have lunch. There were not too many people there. Food was good. The waiter took lots of desserts to our table. We were pretty full already and we have not ordered any desserts. We were told that the desserts were on the house. Oh, that was nice. We all tried a little. The Turkish desserts were similar to Greek. The one I have tried used phyllo wrapped apple and nuts. It tasted good but again it is too sweet for me with the sugar coating outside. Well, we were surprised when the bill came. They have added desserts in the bill. I think it is a gamic they use. Most of people would feel bad and just go ahead to pay. However, we hate to be cheated. We talked to the manager that we have not ordered any dessert and were told that they were on the house. We would pay for things we have eaten but just don't want to be forced. He had changed the bill and appologized for the mistake. OK, it is not too bad.The streets in Turkey are very clean. We were in the old historic district. Many streets were the old cabble stone streets. Everyone were washing and cleaning the areas in front of their own stores. Our shoes were not even wet although it was raining because everyone were constantly cleaning up. We had great impression.
The Grand Bazaar is not far from our hotel. However, streets leading there look pretty complicated on the map. No one wanted to walk again after walking 1/2 day already. We took a taxi. The Grand Bazaar is the largest market in the world. There are more than 4000 stores. I thought I wan't going to buy but who could resist things at a bargain? One needs to master the skill of haggling. Every store greeted customers warming in front of their doors. We were able to use US dollars. All 4 of us bought something. We did not feel tired when we found good buys. We shopped until closing.
There were many taxi in front of the Bazaar. However, everyone wanted a lot more money than we have paid coming to the bazaar. Finally we have found one that would accept 2 times of the price we paid coming. He told us that roads were closing due to their national day the next day so price is more. Well, when we get to the hotel, he was asking for Euro instead. How bad could it get? We gave him a few more lira and told him a deal is a deal. Plus, we don't have Euro. He left without an incident. I think we paid more than what we supposed to pay but were glad that we got off without have to pay Euro. I have read about situations like this online before. It was too bad we have encountered it too. We were lucky to get off the situation.
No one was hungry after that big lunch. We just had some soup, salad, and bread in the hotel restaurant.
