Today we started our orientation walk with our local guide around the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Istanbul University, Suleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar etc. We just walked past these key attractions as there are categorised as optional activities. I couldn't comprehend why these places were not being included in the tour package. I would be able to appreciate more if these significance historical sites were explained to me rather than having to do lots of research when I was with a guided tour. Having said that, I was glad that I had visited these places on the day before the tour began. Otherwise, it would be too rush for me to cramp everything during the free time given in the afternoon.
The Hippodrome was once a horse-racing track during the Byzantine Empire. It was capable of holding 100,000 spectators during its glorious days. Today, it's just a public square.
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The Obelisk of Hippodrome
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After the Hippodrome, we stopped by at a teahouse for a morning tea break. This teahouse serves Turkish coffee, tea and also water-pipe smoking. It was an eye-opener to learn that after consuming the Turkish coffee, the cup is placed upside down on the saucer to let the ground settled before its used for fortune telling.
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| Water-pipe Smoking |
The teahouse is nicely decorated with the Turkish mosaic lamps. I wanted to buy the mosaic lamps as souvenir and thought that I could wait towards the end of my trip. On hindsight, I should have bought it right there and then.
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| Turkish Mosaic Lamps |
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Istanbul University
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The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in the city and its perched on the Third Hill of Istanbul. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the interior as it was closed for Friday prayers.
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Suleymaniye Mosque
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Views of Suleymaniye Mosque from Bosphorus Sea
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The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered market in the world. It has about 3000 stores selling everything under the sun, for instance, Turkish deligths, tea, jewellery, leather goods, toys, garments, homeware and etc. One can get lost easily in here as there are so many entrances. It's definetely a great place to stroll at leisure.
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| Grand Bazaar |
The Spice Market, also know as the Eyptian Market is selling all kind of spices and dried fruits and nuts.
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| Spice Market |
After the orientation walk, we divided into two groups as some of us wanted to go to the Fish Market at Eminonu. The other half decided to follow our guide's recommendation to a local eatery, Balkan Lokantasi. I opted to try the local eatery and really love it. Most importantly, it doesn't have the tourists' price tag.
We were given free time in the afternoon. Hence, I decided to visit the Basilica Cistern. The Basilica Cistern was first constructed by Constantine and enlarged by Justinian using 336 marble columns recycled from the Hellenistic ruins in and around Bosphorus.
At the far end corner of the Cistern, there are two Medusa heads, one was placed upside down and the other on its side. According to mythology, placing her this way caused her to turn into stone. Another belief is that turning her upside down negates her powers.The stones could be just the right size to be used as pedestal.
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| Basilica Cistern |
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| Medusa heads |
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| Medusa heads |
Another highlight of my visit was the Istanbul Archeological Museum which has over one million obejcts and some of them dated back as far as 4th century B.C. One of the most famous collection is the Alexander Sarcophagus that depicting the advanced cravings of battles and the life of Alexander the Great.
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| Alexander Sarcophagus |
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| Alexander Sarcophagus |
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| Alexander Sarcophagus |
At evening, we walked across the Galata Bridge to explore the modern side of Istanbul. When we reached the Galata Tower, the queue was really long. Some of us had decided to go up while others were happy to wait at the bottom. I thought I have to climb up the stairs and therefore I rather gave it a miss. Only later I found out that there is a lift to go up and I was kicking myself for not going up. Somehow I have taken note and would defintely come back after the end of the trip.
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Karadeniz Pide Salonu Restaurant for Turkish pizza
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After dinner, we walked along the Istiklal Avenue, a 3-km long shopping strips and we even went to a bar for drinks after that.
As it has been a long day for us, we took a metro back to Sirkici. As we didn't have the IstanbulKart, we paid our guide for using his travel card instead. This was something that I shouldn't have taken for granted as in the end I had never learnt how to use the metro token for single trip.
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