Tonight, in Istanbul, 30 weary Canadians have the memories of a very busy first day swirling in their minds. Our pilgrimage to Turkey began Thursday night when we met up in the departure lounge in Toronto. After a 10 hour flight, followed by three hours getting visas, checking through customs, collecting luggage and then meeting our guide, we were able to settle into our hotel in downtown Istanbul.
Today the touring began in earnest – such sites, with a wonderful rich history, both cultural and religious. We saw the Blue Mosque, so named because of the blue mosaics that cover its walls and ceiling. Then it was off to Hagia Sophia, the “Church of Wisdom”. We walked through the Hippodrome – the racetrack of the 2nd century, and wandered through the ancient underground cistern. Our final stop of the day was Topkapi Palace – now a museum, this is where the Sultans lived and the palace also served as the seat of government for 400 years.
It was a lot to take in, given that we are all a bit jet-lagged and overwhelmed with all the new sights and sounds. But it was a great day.
As we had been told, the Turkish people are very friendly and gracious and, yes, Turkish cuisine is interesting and different, which is to say,the food is delicious. Oh, and I should mention the tulips are blooming and every park we walked through today was filled with the fragrance of hyacinths – such a divine scent.
Our brains have had to go into over-drive sorting out progression of history from the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire and the shift from the important role Constantinople played in the establishment of Constantinople (now Istanbul) as a Christian centre to its current status with over 90% of the poplulation being Muslim. With its population of 17 million Istanbul is a thriving, cosmopolitan city.
Travel is such a great educator, not only for the sites and history we learn as we travel but also from the experience of enjoying it with fellow travellers. Our group of 30 come from all across Southern Ontario and at each mealtime there is a buzz of conversation as they get to know one another better and share their experiences of the day.
All being well, I will update as often as possible so that you can enjoy this journey with me.
