The Smell of Spice and Cats | Istanbul

Hello again

I feel as if I am getting into the swing of things, even if its only been a couple of days of continuous blogging.

But today I leave for a boat with no internet for a week so this is potentially the last post I will do for a little while.

Stupid me this was written weeks ago as I never managed to post it before I went away on the boat, but I think it is best to carry on just the same...

We arrived in Istanbul at their newer airport which is on the asian side of Istanbul and therefore a fair way from the city centre.

We had decided to spent two nights in the old part of the city, which is the touristy area and also where the Blue mosque and the Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar is.

How Bazaar is this? We are in Istanbul! 

hehe ...so Bazaar.

We spent our first two days in Istanbul exploring the old part of the city, sitting in the Blue Mosque wearing our blue cloths that they give you to cover your head (which are extremely hard to keep on your head) and smelling the lovely smell of freshly removed shoes and therefore feet.

So holy.

The Blue Mosque

The Hagia Sophia, it was weird seeing this as I had done a drawing of the Hagia Sophia in our art history class at school so my memory was surprisingly familiar with the shape and form of the building.

This was my delicious pomegranate juice for 2TL ($1AU) that was so very good. 

The Grand Bazaar

This lovely cat was very happy sleeping on the seat of what looked like a very uncomfortable motorbike seat, much to the amusement of the passers by.

Inside the blue mosque.

We were given blue cloths to cover our head, arms and shoulders and took our shoes off. The inside was absolutely incredible and a sight that will stay with me for a long while yet. We just sat on the floor staring up at the expanse of detailed and intricate artwork that covered every inch of the ceiling. 

There was that feeling of sanctuary that you find in a church, a sense of stillness and inner quiet. It was absolutely beautiful. Although ofter a while the smell of feet did get a bit too much for us and we had to depart the building.

Maria in her headscarf

Inside the Haggia Sophia.

Part of the inside of the Haggia Sophia was under construction or I should say reconstruction, but even still the building was still breathtakingly impressive and beautiful.

I managed to hit an innocent passer by when I flung out my arms

After two days exploring the old part of Istanbul we moved across to the newer part of the city near Taksim Square. We spent our last two days in Istanbul exploring the streets surrounding the centre of the city which reminded us of a middle eastern style Fitzroy or Brunswick with its little cafes and trendy bars and boutiques. We also spent one afternoon across the Bosphorus on what is called the Asian side of Istanbul. If we had more time I think we would have gone back but we were catching an overnight bus south to a seaside town called Fethiye and so our explorations in Istanbul were to be continued another time.

All the same we had the most wonderful time in Istanbul, a city where every colour, sound and smell is intensified. I really look forward to the time when I can go back.

Thats all for now chums xx

Sorry about the lateness but I'm guessing you realised why I only just got round to posting this now.

Love Katie G