Saturday, October 8, 2005: Cecilia Morrissey ceciliabeau@hotmail.com

ISTANBUL BLUE MOSQUE

We gathered in the reception area of the Ayasofa Hotel.  Several of us had been in Istanbul a few days before and had enjoyed shopping for carpets and leather jackets.  Meli chatted briefly with the group and then we walked in the twilight through the streets of Istanbul to the Blue House for dinner.  This restaurant is close to the Blue Mosque and we were treated to a view of the mosque in the twilight.  Since it is Ramadan, the area around the mosque was very busy, with food stalls everywhere.  According to custom, during each day of Ramadan, it is necessary to eat a meal with friends or family, so the area was bustling with activity. After a visit to the mosque and our dinner we returned to the hotel, each of us eager to start our adventure following “The Footsteps of St. Paul

POEM by Beau Baudrey  [ceciliabeau@hotmail.com]

Blue Mosque, a mathematical and engineering feat

The sultan thought it was really neat

It’s large, it’s grand, with domes that reach the sky

Double crosses, tree of life, much beauty to see with the eye

A place for both men and women to come and pray

In early morning and end of day.