Talking Turkey

Entrance to the Blue Mosque

I have to admit I went into Turkey expecting the worst.

My sole interaction with Turkish people until this point had been the many dirty, dodgy kebab shops that can be found all over the world. The Turkish endemic in Vienna was particularly bad and the youths there cause a lot of problems.

I had an understandably skewed opinon. But that’s just one more reason why I love travelling. You are forced to constantly change your parameters, your opinions, your ideals, and you are continually challenged. Sometimes these challenges are light • like trying a new food, sometimes intermediate • like trying a new activity, or meeting a new person, and sometimes - they shake you to your core • like forcing you to change your ideologies. Turkey did just that. I stand corrected, overwhelmed, inspired and uplifted. Istanbul is a wonderful city.

1597? New Mosque? what the hell is old then??

I pretty much got to see everything of note in the city at least once. I revelled in its sights, smells, sounds and souls.

Highlights include:

-The Blue Mosque • one of the largest mosques in the world, and a wonderful piece of architecture.

-Hagia Sofia • originally built as a Christian Cathedral but changed to a Mosque. It’s bloody massive!

-Topkapi Palace • The original Sultan palace • complete with Harem rooms, an exquisite Jewellery Collection, a circumcision room! and another room housing amongst other things • the staff of Moses and the arm of John the Baptist! Within the jewellery room is the worlds second largest diamond.

the New Mosque ceiling

-Hamams (Turkish baths) • I visited a few of these. I highly recommend Cerembilitas, but would tell you to avoid Cagalogulu. They are quite an experience and the massage in Cerembilitas was fantastic. After an hour in there you literally float out the door.

-Galata tower • An ancient Roman tower still standing which gives a great view of the city.

-Taxsim • the thumping shopping district which, at night, turns into the biggest party scene I’ve ever witnessed. It was like New Years Eve on acid. What an awesome place!

-Dolbramace Palace • I’d rate this as the most impressive palace I’ve seen so far. Totally over the top. The Grand Ball room was completely overwhelming.

-Bosphorous River -  a pleasant day touring, culminating in lunch on the Black Sea.

inside the new mosque

-Grand Bazaar • get lost in the jungle and find a bargain!

-Spice Bazaar • so many awesome smells and tastes

-Princess Island • not quite what I expected but a pleasant day in the sun trying to find somewhere nice to swim. In the end, a local I met on the street, invited me into his mansion so that I could swim in his yard and use his shower. He even showed me how to lock the door on my way out (as he was leaving)

However for me, the real highlight was the people.

Everyone was so utterly warm and open and friendly. Especially once they found out that I was Australian. People hugged me, invited me in to their houses and just generally were so happy to talk with me. At first I kept expecting a scam but they honestly are genuinely friendly. Such was their honesty that I even had people shout to me if I left some change behind.