A rainy day in Turkey

A cool architectural feature.

This is our first rainy day in Turkey. We've had some pretty terrific weather, so no complaints. And no snow, so I really have lots to be thankful for!

Look up....look waaaaaaayyyy up! Ceiling at the Hagia Sophia

Another decorated ceiling!

We went to Topkapi Palace today, and although it is quite opulent, after the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, it didn't quite wow us in the same way. There are a number of really beautiful buildings in the palace grounds, of course, including an entire really beautifully tiled building that was solely for circumcising the young pages. Unfortunately, the harem building required another admission fee, which we weren't willing to spring for!

Today was Ainslie's birthday (Happy day again, Ains!), so I told them I'd take Isaac for the evening so they could go out for a b-day dinner. Isaac and I went back to a non-touristy place by the water, where he ordered his beloved fish soup, and I had some appetisers. It was a pretty fun date, all in all!

Ian, Ains & Isaac leave tomorrow for Thailand, and my flight is for the following day, so I'll have an evening & morning here on my own. We stopped into a small shop near the palace today, owned by an artist & his wife, where the tiles are actually hand painted by them or their students. They do workshops on marbling paper, bookbinding, painting tiles, cooking, etc. If we were here for another few days, I'm sure Ains & I would have booked a session or two! Who knows, I may be able to squeeze in something!

Tomorrow it was our plan to visit a Turkish bath- when in Turkey...I think Ainslie & I may go, but not the boys (more on why offline later!). It's traditional to visit the baths while in the country- although this particular establishment doesn't have a steam room like the authentic ones would have, but rather, a sauna. But a half hour massage is included in the deal, so it might happen! There's lots more we'd like to do, so I'm not sure a bath will happen. We shall see!

They have entire restaurants dedicated to hooka smoking. I'm told it's flavoured tobacco- apple blossom, etc. Don't feel a strong urge to go to one, but it's fascinating, all the same!

We had a cup of Turkish coffee our first day here- seemed like another 'gotta do it' thing. The coffee had a very peculiar taste. It was served in a teeny tiny cup, which part-way through drinking, contained a thick pile of sludge at the bottom (espresso grounds, I'm told). I have yet to drink a cup of Turkish tea, which is always served in a glass cup, but I think I'll try that before I leave. I can pass on the coffee.

On that note, I'm going to post a few pics, and get myself to bed early-esh (10:40pm here right now).

This incredible building is...a fountain! So amazing!

Yup, another ornate ceiling. 

The marble carving is really terrific in this city...almost everywhere you look!

Here a minaret, there a minaret- they are literally all over the city!

One of the 35 streets in this covered market, the Grand Bazaar. We stuck to one street, going straight only, for fear of getting lost. I prefer the wee shops outdoors on the streets!

Oh, the tiles! And how ancient these tiles are!