Western Turkey 101 Tour Group Journal
October 14, 2013 - October 26, 2013

Please click here for
Day 11 Istanbul
Itinerary of the tour
Melitour Home pag

 
View of Istanbul from our room

I t was our last day with Tufan as he drove us from Kusadasi to catch our flight in Izmir to Istabul. We drove through an agricultural landscape with many farms and herds of sheep.

We arrived in Istanbul in early afternoon and stopped at the Gelik Restaurant for a fabulous lunch before checking into the And Hotel in Sultanahmet District directly across from the Hagia Sofia. The hotel rooftop restaurant has an exquisite view of Istanbul.

Meli took us on a tour of the Basilica Cistern and explained why Istanbul is considered the most unique city in the world—it’s the only city that straddles two continents, the layer upon layer of so many civilizations and empires, its strategic importance on the Bosphorus Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and because there is no fresh water source. Water had to be brought in from 20 kilometers away. Hence there are cisterns all over Istanbul to store water.

The Basilica Cistern was built using old material from the temples of Apollo and Athena. Doric and composite style capitals were put on these pillars. The pillars were stabilized with iron rods because it’s an earthquake stone. The Byzantine domes were created later. Water filters of animal hides, pebbles and coal were added in the 1500s to the top of the roof to filter the water which continues today. The cisterns were well protected because of their importance to the city.

After the cistern, we crammed ourselves onto a rush hour tram to the Spice Market. We passed the New Mosque on our way to the entrance of the market (new meaning 17^th century). We wandered the market separately for a while and then split up with some of us returning for a Turkish bath and some of us visiting the nearby Rustem Pasa Mosque with the eye-popping Iznik tiles.

Dinnner was at Kumkapi which has many restaurants serving fish. Musicians stopped by our table to serenade us and to dance with Micky, Kathy and Ann.

After dinner, the ice cream man entertained us and we ate vanilla ice cream cones made with orchid powder. 

Please click here for
Day 11 Istanbul
Itinerary of the tour
Melitour Home pag