Istanbul, Turkey

  On the morning of June 10, we worke up early for a lovely breakfast in the Provence Dining Room before heading to meet our group for the day. We quickly loaded the bus, and were shuttled from the ship, which was docked in "new" Istanbul (on the continent of Europe) over the bridge to "old" Istanbul (on the continent of Asia Minor). Istanbul is the only country that straddles across two continents.

European side and Asian side of Istanbul

     Once on the other side of the bridge, we arrived at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, otherwise known as the Blue Mosque. The Mosque gets its nickname from the many blue painted tiles that cover most of the interior (more on that later).

entrance to the courtyard in front of the Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

     As we made our way through the long line, we admired the many features of the outside, including the foot washing stations lining the side of the Mosque.

foot washing stations

     When we neared the door, mom and I (as we are women) were checked to make sure we had our heads covered, as well as our shoulders and knees. The culture is very different from what we are used to, women are still not respected in the same regards as we are back home. There was a very strict dress code to adhere to, and if women were not dressed appropriately, they were given a blanket to wrap themselves in.

     Upon entering the floor of the Mosque, it is also required of everyone to remove shoes.

     Walking into the Mosque, I was awed by the beauty surrounding me. The floors were covered in beautiful, handmade Turkish carpeting, and the walls and ceilings were adorned with individual tiles, each handpainted with blue florals. Islamic Mosques are not allowed have pictures of people, or animals in their decor, which is why tulips have become the primary flower of choice for Mosque decor.

the hand painted tiles on the ceiling

     After leaving the Blue Mosque, we walked over to the Hagia Sofia, about a block away. The Hagia Sofia is now used as a museum to the many empires that have ruled Istanbul. It has historically served as a holy place for Pagens, Christians, as well as Islams.

looking through the bridge from the Blue Mosque

Hagia Sofia

     Walking into the Hagia Sofia, it is easy to spot the different cultures, you can see the Frescos that originated under the Christians, and later covered by the Islams, only to be re-discovered when exploring the history.

The many empires from which Hagia Sofia was ruled

The Mosque side of Hagia Sofia

Frescos that were uncovered 

     After spending some time admiring the many histories of the Hagia Sofia, we boarded our bus once again to head to the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is home to over 3,000 shops covering over 60 streets.

One of the many entrances

looking down one of the streets of the Bazaar

Selfie!

     We were given several hours to explore the streets and bargain our way through the Bazaar. It is a very different culture from what we are used to in the states. While it is customary to bargain with the shop owners, it is also common for them to invite you into their shop for a cup of turkish tea.

outdoor part of the Grand Bazaar

This is where we ate lunch! It was delicious!

     While we were shopping in the Grand Bazaar, we experienced the call to prayer that can be heard just about anywhere in Istanbul. The minarets surrounding mosques are adorned with speakers which sound the voice of the call to prayer.

The Minarets are the tall towers surrounding the mosque

     We enjoyed our time in Istanbul, and we would certainly return to see more! Just be aware of the Mosquitos (the salesmen that DO NOT leave you alone)!

Sailing away from Istanbul. On our balcony

     After our return to the lovely Island Princess, we had to get ready for our big evening at the chef's table. stay tuned to hear all about our amazing evening with the executive chef!