Postscript--Istanbul

After eleven days in Israel, we flew home and lingered, on-route, for four days in Istanbul.  Istanbul is a city of 18 million people living at what has been the crossroads of civilzation.  Our hotel, in a suburban business district, was a good 45 minute cab ride from the historic district downtown.  During the four days we were there, it rained almost all the time.  The weather was a good deal cooler than Israel and getting around proved to be challenging.  There had also been reports of violence in Turkey, similar to those in Israel, driven primarily by the Kurdish minority group.  While we were in Istanbul, the group had sworn off of violence in light of the upcoming Turkish elections.  They feared votes being cast for the current administration rather than the Kurds running for office.  Their fears seemed warranted since the current administration won the November 1 ballot handily.

Despite the distance, we made our way into the historic center on our first full day, where we visited Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years; the Cisterns, public baths in a cavern under the city which featured in a James Bond movie and the Egyptian Market, where spice and 
Despite the distance, we made our way into the historic center on our first full day, where we visited Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years; the Cisterns, public baths in a cavern under the city which featured in a James Bond movie and the Egyptian Market, where spice and candy vendors abound.   While we were in the downtown corridor, we heard what we thought was a demonstration that we shied away from.  We later learned it was in celebration of a national holiday.

On our second full day, we met with a guide, Gokcen Art, who was a friend of Aziz, our lead guide from Israel.  She took us to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and Chora Church.  The Blue Mosque is one of the most visited mosques in the world.  Its interior, free of images of people or animals, was heavy on islamic calligraphy and intense with visitors.  We waited in line over an hour to get in.  Hagia Sophia, once a Christian church, is now a museum and considered one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture.  

At the Grand Bazaar, we visited with a friend of the Myers, Murat, from whom we purchased shadow puppets for the grandkids.  

Chora Church was a marvel, quite easily our favorite site.  Originally built in the 5th century, it was rebuilt many times until the 13th century when the church was recast by a famous architect,Theodore Metochites, whose marvelous frescos remain to this day.  Based on the apocryphal books of the Bible, they include figures, like Ann, the mother of Mary, unfamiliar to many Christians.  The quality and color of each painting is breath-taking.

On our third full day in Istanbul, we visited the home of our guide for a cooking class.  She taught us to prepare yogurt, zucchini, potatoe salad, eggplant, rice and two sauces.  It was a lovely morning.  We spent the afternoon packing for our return to the States.

Our stop in Istanbul had given us a taste of this famous city that sits partially in Europe and partially in Asia.  Turkey, clearly, would be worth a more complete visit.