We learned from our Topkapi experience that the early risers beat the horrendous queues so we made our way early to the Basilica Cisterns. We ended up being first in the queue and got to experience this wonder of roman engineering and architecture in peace and quiet.
The cisterns were once the water supply for the Palace and surrounding areas. It fell into disuse and was “rediscovered” by by a French Scholar in the 1400s. It blows my mind that he discovered it completely by chance when digging deeper into why the locals were able to get fresh clean water and catch the occasional fish just by dropping a line or bucket in a hole in their basement.
The whole complex was made of old marble columns recycled from other roman buildings. At the far end of the cisterns there are 2 Medusa heads that are used as a base for columns. There is an air of mystery about them and their placement as one is upside down and another on its side. They were pretty cool. I threw a coin in the wishing well on the way out and prayed to any god that would listen that our luggage would arrive.
We emerged from the dark depths blinded by sunshine and frightened by the size of the queue into the Hagia Sophia or church of the divine wisdom. Never fear museum kart ist here! We jumped the queue and get into this amazing building quickly.
The Hagia Sophia has had a rich history since it’s foundation in 537 as a Christian church, then a mosque and now a museum. What gets me about Istanbul is just how ancient it is. We’ve gotten to the point of saying if it was around after 1600 it’s a baby.
The dome of the Hagia Sophia is massive and you’re really dwarfed by the size and scale of this structure. This building is sometimes labelled the epitome of Byzantine architecture for its design and intricate mosaics. We’re actually lucky the mosaics are still around because they were plastered over or even destroyed when the building was converted into a mosque.
Over the road is the Blue Mosque, we tried to squeeze it in today but just couldn’t due to queues. To be honest we were a bit ancient artefacted out so we headed to the Grand Bazaar for take 2 of the madness. We didn’t last long the second time around either. There are only so many times you can say no to free samples of Turkish delight, carpet dealers and T-shirt hawkers before it makes you want to scream…so we left. After having a Donner Kebap wrap for lunch, John had his hair cut because I just couldn’t handle the fro any longer!
Back at the hotel there was still no sign of our walkabout bags so we decided to have a rest and attack another museum to get the most out of our museum card. Ok I admit it I’m a museum nut…call me crazy but I just can’t get enough of them….seriously!
The Istanbul archeological museum is a hidden gem and is like Mecca to archeology tragics like me. I always wanted to be Indiana Jones and I literally felt like him at the museum. There are ancient artefacts just littering the grounds. In fact you practically stub your toes on them! From Roman columns to statues to sarcophagi this museum has got everything this little historian could wish for. What I loved most about it was being able to walk up to the works, examine them and even sneakily touch them! I could spend a day here but alas…I only had an hour and a half 🙁
After such a long day we decided to dine local at the restaurant across the road. The guy has pestered us since we arrived so we thought we’d have mercy on him and give him a crack. Not a great idea…hummus was served with baguette. We’re in TURKEY! How hard is it to get some pied bread? Seriously! Anyhow, if you’re ever in Istanbul don’t go to Raymond Restaurant.
After dinner this punk was all cultured out and crashed dreaming of ruins.
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