FRIDAY 10th JULY 2009 (HAGIA SOFYA)

FRIDAY 10th JULY 2009

I was up super early and headed off to take some photographs without the usual 10,000 people per square metre interfering. To be surrounded by such ancient buildings in the quiet of the morning was truly lovely.

Adil arrived at 10.00am on his Transalp (which has done over 250,000 kays and still looks new) and took Paul into the city to get Turkish Lira and to exchange the Ukrainian Hyrvnia - this turned out to be difficult...funny how no-one wants Ukrainian money...!!! They ended up in the Russian section of town at two vans to change the money on the black market...!!! Exchange rate was terrible so they were directed to the only bank in Istanbul who would accept the currency - the rate was MUCH better. With the weekend fast approaching we were very happy to have this job done.

Back to Hotel SPINA for refreshments and conversation then Adil left just after 1.00pm

(Adil with Paul at Hotel SPINA)



Our mission today was to check out the HAGIA SOFYA dating back to 532-537 (period of construction). It was used as a Christian Church for 916 years and a Mosque for 481 years. It now functions as an architectural museum - well worth seeing. We spent almost three hours sticky-beaking at everything there is to see. The centre dome is currently undergoing restoration with scaffolding and an elevator reaching 13 stories high. There were many intricate and beautiful mosaic panels of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and St. John the Baptist (as well as others). The candelabra on their own are worth seeing -amazing.

How this building was ever constructed way back then defies logic. The pathway to the next level up was just that, a multiple hairpin pathway - no steps! It was beautiful with the diffused light on the cobblestones. I never counted the turns but there were lots. I imagine there are many secret passageways throughout the Mosque. Archaeologists were still finding historic chambers, etc but halted exploration as it compromised the safety of the building. I guess its secrets will be revealed one day.

Once outside we just sat in the shade, watched the people entering and absorbed the architectural marvel that was before us. We overheard one very 'rounded' American gentleman sternly telling his equally rounded children that "twenty minutes of culture wont hurt you"! We laughed. Children are obviously the same the world over...!!!

We then went across the garden square to re-visit the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more commonly known as the 'Blue Mosque', to see inside during daylight hours. It is known as the Blue Mosque because of the colour of the glazed tiles on the interior walls. Of course the women have to wear head scarves and EVERYONE must remove their shoes before entering.

A short walk home for our late afternoon rest before hitting the pavement again. Every evening we would go wandering in a different direction and discover what there is to see. We got to watch a DERVISH dancer which was mesmerizing. The dancer seems to go into a trance - it is very hypnotic to watch. We eventually ended up at the Grand Vezir open-air Restaurant-Cafe which shared a stone wall with the Blue Mosque. Many hours passed as we enjoyed two outstanding guitarists performing with the Mosque's minarets lit up behind . They were excellent and involved the small audience. Even though we didn't understand most of what they were saying we could still laugh because of the way they interacted with their audience. It was well after midnight before we left the cafe, happy as after enjoying some good music.