I eagerly anticipated our touchdown in Istanbul; before going to Turkey, I had never visited a primarily Islamic nation before.
A view of Istanbul from above:
From the plane, overlooking the city, I was shocked by the prevalence of mosques-- and instantly I knew I was going to experience a culture very unlike my own.
Our family had rented an apartment for our five day trip--- tucked away in a small alley, it was comfortably located close to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia.
Street vendors swarmed the streets-- all of them singing praises and eagerly urging you to enter their shops. The strong smell of spices and smoke filled the streets as well; and apple tee was offered to us on a regular basis.
I was shocked to see so many men on the streets-- working in the shops. Women traveled with their husbands, most wearing the hijab, covering their hair. Although traditional, the Turkish did not discriminate against those who chose not to cover their hair or face-- in fact, Turkey has banned the hijab in school and university settings.
One evening our family went to see a bellydancing performance, which was quite entertaining!! The best part? My mother and I got up and participated in a demonstration. I can only imagine how funny that would have been for my brother and father who were watching!!
We spent a lot of our time in Turkey wandering through the streets, visiting mosques, the underground cistern, and even taking a boat ride on the Bosphorous. There was just so much to absorb!
A view of the Roman underground cistern in Istanbul:
