Mount Arrat - Page 5

Doğubeyazıt - Istanbul

We said goodbye to the beautiful Mount Ararat today. He stood here long before us and will outlast us. The long drive to Van to the airport was accordingly quiet. We had been a good troop, all got along very well and helped each other. For half of us it went today over Istanbul to Germany. We and 4 other people stayed 3 more days in Istanbul. Once there, we did not find our shuttle to the city center for a long time in the huge area. Finally found, we drove another 90 minutes to the hotel through completely crowded streets. Noise, bustle, crowds, Istanbul had absorbed us.

The hotel was centrally located, simple and had a wonderful roof terrace. After checking in, we wanted to take a boat trip on the Bosphorus. On the shore every few meters providers of boat tours advertised. We opted for a smaller ship and went out on the water without waiting. This was wonderfully relaxing, far away from the hustle and bustle we glided for 2 hours past many sights of Istanbul. Cruise ships stood on the shore and every now and then Russian cargo ships passed by. Then our nutshell bobbed neatly. A little later we were again drawn into the maelstrom of the crowds in the city. Getting there was stressful, all we wanted now was food and drink. We found a small restaurant with beer from tin cans. In the evening, some went for a walk in the city, I just wanted to go to the roof terrace.

The following morning Firat wrote me that he would send us a city guide for the first day here. She was then also 5 minutes later on the mat. We never had much time to breathe 🙂. First port of call was the beautiful Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine church built around 530 AD, in the meantime museum, today mosque. The dress code should be followed today, women should cover their arms, legs and hair, men pants up to above the knees. Therefore, it was gruesome for me today, in long pants through the hot city. But it was very worth seeing, our female guide was also competent. About a well-kept square with obelisk and snake column we came afterwards to the Blue Mosque, the only mosque with 6 minarets, built about 1600. Wonderful Ottoman craftsmanship and architecture can be admired here: the blue-white tiles or the fine composition of the many domes.

Under the pretext to show us a cistern, we ended up then, you know it already, at a carpet dealer 🙂. That is also always interesting what they tell about the production, but hey, who drags a carpet for 10000 € home afterwards? But seems to be worthwhile anyway, otherwise he would not do that. For me, the maximum punishment after that was to visit the Grand Bazaar. The women's eyes shone, while we passed endless jewelry, bags and clothes stores. I have to admit, it was far more discreet than in Morocco or Egypt in bazaars, no one was intrusive. But otherwise, not my thing.

Our guide offered to take us further through Istanbul tomorrow and since she had worked out well today, we accepted the offer. We returned to the restaurant from yesterday and had some tin cans again. The next day our guide was on time and we started to the Topkapı Palace. This huge area, divided into 4 courtyards, was for centuries the residence and seat of government of the sultans, as well as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Here one gains information about the persons, hierarchies and tasks at court, about sultans, princes, eunuchs, harem ladies and slaves. In addition, enormous treasures of gold and precious stones are exhibited here, as well as relics such as footprints and hair of Mohamed.

We were overwhelmed by all the information and walked for a long time through the heated city to the Süleymaniye Mosque. Then our guide suggested that we go to a gondola station in Eyüp, where you can walk up to a viewing platform. From here it became annoying. After a long wait in the blazing sun, the bus arrived. Crowded and with stuffy air, we rode for half an hour. At the gondola station, our guide then said, from here she has to leave us alone, she has a doctor's appointment. Oops, and how do we get back to the Moloch? Well, as we all know, getting excited only eats up energy, so we walked up alone to the beautiful view and thought about it. After all, not far from us was a stop of the ferry, which is very convenient to get to the Galata Bridge. From there we knew further, went anyway first only in the usual restaurant 🙂.

The next morning we still looked at the beautiful late antique Cisterna Basilica, Manu meanwhile wanted to stroll to the Galata Tower. The cistern was huge and very well preserved, various light shows only making it more impressive. Our shuttle arrived in the early afternoon and took us to the Airport. Time runs and does not stop.