Turkey

If you are looking to meet kind, hospitable people, come to Turkey.   After getting our luggage, we decided against taking the shuttle to the hotel.  Instead we thought we would take the subway.  We walked to the subway entrance where we met a young woman who took us under her wing.  Nesi, 20 years old, had just finished her first day of work with Turkish Airlines.  She offered us our first glimpse of Turkish hospitality.  She made sure we got on the right subway line, the correct mini-bus and put us on the right track for the train to our hotel.  We are staying in the Sultanahmet district famous for the Blue Mosque, Saint Sophia/Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.   Although it is full of tourists, the area is charming and well located.  On our first day we met Sadik at the Blue Mosque.  Sadik offered to take us to the Mosque and around the town if we would take a few minutes to visit his uncle’s carpet shop.  We should have known better—it was an expensive day---but since we wanted a carpet, I am glad we bought it from his uncle.  Their shop became our home away from home.  Sadik is Turkish, a graduate of Colorado College and now living in Durango, Colorado with his wife and son.  Sadik, like Nesi, has been a lovely host. 

Over the next few days we visited St. Sophia, once a Catholic church, then a mosque called Hagia Sophia, and now a museum; 

the Blue Mosque, a dazzlingly decorated mosque still in use today, the Basilica Cistern which supplied water to the town in Roman times, took a cruise on the Bosphoros, joined the crowd of tourists at the Spice Market 

and watched afternoon prayer at a mosque built for the mother of one of the Sultans, roamed around the Grand Bazaar, explored Topkapi Palace with its jewels and mosaic tiled salons and experienced the hustle and bustle of this colorful city that straddles Europe and Asia.  I even had a Turkish bath!  This was a highlight for me, particularly the “bubbling” when I was doused with bubble bath as I lay on the hot stone rocks.  Thank you Ronnie and Natasha for sharing this experience with me!

Unfortunately, the beautiful weather we have been experiencing for most of our trip, has finally given way to autumn wind and rain.  Although the nasty weather didn’t stop our exploration, it has resulted in Mark catching a cold and me a sore throat. 

After five days in Istanbul, we headed to Cappadocia, a region in the middle of Turkey, known for its unique geological formations called fairy chimneys and its many caves.   We even stayed in a cave for our three day visit!   For two days we explored the area including caves used by the early Christians seeking refuge from the Romans, caves used by the locals to escape invading armies, niches for pigeons whose dropping were used for fertilizer, workshops for local crafts including pottery, 

rug and jewelry making and beautiful valleys filled with fascinating geological specimens.   Our tour guide, Gorham was fantastic; his knowledge of world history and local geography totally impressed us.  I wish he were joining us for the rest of our travels in Turkey. 

We are once again at the airport.  Today we will fly from Kayseri to Izmir.  Stay turned for our next edition.