Istanbul, Part 2

Istanbul, Part 2

OK…back to our entertaining dinner. One of the dishes on the menu is baked in a clay container with a narrow top and wide bottom. Our host put the container in a fire, took it out, tapped it all around cracking it, and voila—there was dinner! After dinner, Dan and I went to the very top of our hotel for a final nighttime view of Istanbul.

On our last day we visited the Blue Mosque, which is immaculate—beautiful clean Turkish carpet…(reread my blog on the visit to the mosque in Alexandria, which by comparison is a zoo with garbage! ) Tourists are not allowed in the prayer area, but we could see all of it. There were only about 4 worshippers as it wasn’t prayer time. I love to listen to the Muzzenine (have no idea exactly what the word is) the men who sing the call to prayer. It’s possible to hear one after the other from the different minarets at prayer time, which occurs 5 times a day. Many of them, however, are now outsourced—recorded!

We then took a tram and a funicular to the new section of Istanbul, which Rick Steves gives 3 stars. I give it ½ star. It’s just the modern part of town with Starbucks, Burger King, etc….neither quaint nor upscale enough to be interesting. Dan and I had an overpriced so-so lunch. We saw our friends from the ship who were staying at the Intercontinental. It’s a beautiful hotel, but when they asked the front desk for a converter, they said they could buy one. (In Barcelona our hotel gave us one to keep!) Breakast and lunch were over $70 for a buffet. . I’m so glad we stayed in the old part of town!

Note on the Turkish people: Dan and I have traveled a lot and are now ready to give Turkey the award for the friendliest, most helpful, and most hospitable people. (except at Intercontinental) Wherever we went, —whether at our hotel, a restaurant, the Grand Bazzar, or just asking directions on the street—the Turks could not do enough to help us. Two small examples: our host at the restaurant “treated” us to our tea, coffee, cappuccino. At my hotel, when I commented how much I liked the decorative, ceramic coasters in our room, the young man at the desk gave them to me. We were often stopped by people just so they could talk to us. I think of the Turks of yore—the ferocious Turks conquering everyone. Their descendants certainly don’t take after them.

On the ride to the airport, we drove along the seaside through a beautiful area with colorful flowers and trees. The airport was clean, modern, and efficient.

Cleanliness: Debbie asked me if Turkey is clean. The answer is an unequivocal “yes!” We have seen almost no trash or graffiti. Even the bathrooms in the tiniest places are immaculate. I saw many workers picking up trash and sweeping the streets. Shop owners in the Grand Bazzar were washing down the street in front of their stores with water. Contrast this to Egypt…

A funny comment….I asked the young man at our hotel if he had ever been to Egypt. He replied, “I’m afraid to visit an Arab country.”

Women: The Turks pride themselves that when Ataturk came into power (1920’s, I believe), Turkey became a secular state, and women had full rights, which they continue to have. What surprised me is that so many of them still dress traditionally. We were told that this is a personal choice.

I think it’s an odd choice. Although we have been lucky with the weather,

high 80’s. many of the women wear long, heavy coats over their dresses/skirts. I asked one woman why they didn’t wear something modest but cooler—such as a black, cotton covering. She said that cotton clings to the body and is too revealing.