http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=x9w0xi8.3xkr7k7g&x=0&y=-i2pcix&localeid=en_US - this is where all of the photos can be found in slideshow.
I shall begin with first a disclaimer, these are my impressions and my opinions of some wonderful places. During meetings with extraordinary people I took notes on their comments and experiences which are much broader than my own. In no way is this a complete story, it is however a diary of shared experiences in a place many have never even heard of: Tajikistan. Great luck that Istanbul was part of the deal, and glorious gateway to our adventure.
FIRST DAY TOGETHER, THE HABITAT EIGHT
Our little building crew of the Habitat for Humanity Eight met in Istanbul for dinner and instantly started laughing and sharing stories. Some had arrived early to explore Istanbul and Turkey while others like our fearless leader, Jeri had arrived that day. The next day was terrific with a guided tour of the Blue Mosque (my favorite), the Hippodrome and the Haja Sofya followed by Topkopi Palace and a carpet shop. One of my many regrets now that I have returned is not buying a silk rug when I had the opportunity. Our guide was fabulous! So patient with us, good English and truly loves what he is presenting. He did not rush us through anything even though we had a flight that night.
Scroll back a bit to the first night in Istanbul, I had my hotel room to myself, arrived about 1 am and about 5am this voice....and what a voice...singing, chanting and engulfing the city! This first time it woke me and yet was calming, allowing for an immediate return to sleep. It would be heard 5 times a day, that wonderful call to prayer...even in the dark the first experience was HEAR the culture.
Our little building crew of the Habitat for Humanity Eight met in Istanbul for dinner and instantly started laughing and sharing stories. Some had arrived early to explore Istanbul and Turkey while others like our fearless leader, Jeri had arrived that day. The next day was terrific with a guided tour of the Blue Mosque (my favorite), the Hippodrome and the Haja Sofya followed by Topkopi Palace and a carpet shop. One of my many regrets now that I have returned is not buying a silk rug when I had the opportunity. Our guide was fabulous! So patient with us, good English and truly loves what he is presenting. He did not rush us through anything even though we had a flight that night.
Scroll back a bit to the first night in Istanbul, I had my hotel room to myself, arrived about 1 am and about 5am this voice....and what a voice...singing, chanting and engulfing the city! This first time it woke me and yet was calming, allowing for an immediate return to sleep. It would be heard 5 times a day, that wonderful call to prayer...even in the dark the first experience was HEAR the culture.
A GREAT TOUR OF SULTANAMET AND THE HISTORICAL SITES OF THE HIPPODROME, BLUE MOSQUE, HAJA SOFYA AND THE TOPKAPI PALACE
Haja Sofya, first a church, the entire building done in mosaic on the walls and ceilings, each tile about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch. What dedication. Build in 537 AD it was made of lower Roman columns then red stone brick. Art came later with Christian images of important people, saints and icons of that ilk. After the 13th century it was converted to a mosque (like many religious buildings, think of the Mayans and the Tultecs, and of Angkor which was Buddhist, then Hindu, then Buddhist, then Hindu, each time changing something of the appearance but keeping the structure). All the of mosaic was covered with plaster and repainted with designs as the Muslim faith does not depict people in it's artwork. . Now the building is a museum and can be cherished for it's history spanning both religions and very different times.
A note about tourists: some are fine, some are....living some stereo types! When signs say "no flash" why is it that a few just feel that they are exempt? There is a reason for no flash, to protect the integrity of the artwork and color as long as possible. Sometimes the guards were actually waving the no flash signs in front of people and they would still take a photo with the flash!
The Cat: Many saw when Obama visited Istanbul and the Haja Sofya that he petted "the cat". You will see said cat in the photos, a very calm, quite cross-eyed little fellow. Cats are everywhere in Istanbul, yet the majority seem quite well tended and healthy.
The Hippodrome is quite fascinating as well, what's left of it as it was build originally in the 2nd century and enlarged in the 4th. It was a venue for entertainment, games and at times, executions. The Byzantines and Ottoman eras of the city and the land are worth learning about. Anatolia means: Land where the sun rises.
Our flight (the one per week) to Dushanbe Tajikistan departed at 8:30 that night and landed in Dushanbe at a little after 3am. And so began our journey into a land uncharted by any of us, what a joy it turned out to be!
Haja Sofya, first a church, the entire building done in mosaic on the walls and ceilings, each tile about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch. What dedication. Build in 537 AD it was made of lower Roman columns then red stone brick. Art came later with Christian images of important people, saints and icons of that ilk. After the 13th century it was converted to a mosque (like many religious buildings, think of the Mayans and the Tultecs, and of Angkor which was Buddhist, then Hindu, then Buddhist, then Hindu, each time changing something of the appearance but keeping the structure). All the of mosaic was covered with plaster and repainted with designs as the Muslim faith does not depict people in it's artwork. . Now the building is a museum and can be cherished for it's history spanning both religions and very different times.
A note about tourists: some are fine, some are....living some stereo types! When signs say "no flash" why is it that a few just feel that they are exempt? There is a reason for no flash, to protect the integrity of the artwork and color as long as possible. Sometimes the guards were actually waving the no flash signs in front of people and they would still take a photo with the flash!
The Cat: Many saw when Obama visited Istanbul and the Haja Sofya that he petted "the cat". You will see said cat in the photos, a very calm, quite cross-eyed little fellow. Cats are everywhere in Istanbul, yet the majority seem quite well tended and healthy.
The Hippodrome is quite fascinating as well, what's left of it as it was build originally in the 2nd century and enlarged in the 4th. It was a venue for entertainment, games and at times, executions. The Byzantines and Ottoman eras of the city and the land are worth learning about. Anatolia means: Land where the sun rises.
Our flight (the one per week) to Dushanbe Tajikistan departed at 8:30 that night and landed in Dushanbe at a little after 3am. And so began our journey into a land uncharted by any of us, what a joy it turned out to be!
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