Istanbul

September 29, 2008 | Filed Under Main | 3 Comments

I’ve got a four day weekend and I decided last week to go to Istanbul. I’m heading out tomorrow. Packing as we speak.

Why Istanbul? For one because it is only three hours away. Second, I’ve been in and around the Cradle of Civilization for nine months and haven’t seen any of it. Istanbul is the bridge between Europe and Asia. Buildings are centuries old. Cultures flow in and out. Many trade routes run through Istanbul. History – I want to see history. I will be staying towards the center of town in a converted Ottoman house between the Blue Mosque and Sancta Sophia, which I have wanted to see for years. It is a massive structure built in Roman times that went from being a Christian church to a mosque and is now a museum. To be under the dome is said to be spiritually breathtaking. One writer likened Sophia to cathedrals like Notre Dame or Angkor where you feel “a nearness to things unexplained”.

I’ve only had a week to research this so I’m going in pretty blind. But that’s half the fun, right?

Besides – outside of serving alcohol, I read it might rain.(!!!!!) See you when I get back.

share: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • del.icio.us
  • digg
  • Furl
  • NewsVine
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
tags: none

Leave a Comment

If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.

Name

Email

Website

Comments

3 comments so far
  1. Mary lou September 30, 2008 10:58 am

    you kill me, Carl…hope you have a fabulously wet time.

  2. Tommy September 30, 2008 2:51 pm

    Indeed have a fun time in Turkey. If you are so close to Turkey you almost have to go especially if you always wanted to. Who knows when you will be back that way so you better get some Turkey while you can.

  3. mburma October 1, 2008 12:03 pm

    The best part so far? No American Fast Food Joints!!! In fact – very little English showing period. But a beautiful and fascinating city.