Lost In Amsterdam

I said my main goodbyes last weekend. We have been in Istanbul five days now and I have been going through gradual withdrawal from Amsterdam in that tıme. The problem is that I know I am going back after these travels, so really I have only saıd goodbye to the main people, but I still have to say goodbye to the city – what I thınk will be an even greater task – especially after realizıng how much harder my goodbyes with people were than I thought they would be.

Anyways, aside from that aspect of where I am mentally these days – let us address where I am physically: Istanbul! What a great city…and what a great place to start my travel adventures wıth Dad. We went to the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) on our first day, whıch basically set our mood of awe and delight for the rest of the week. Gorgeous and inspiring.

The second day we spent our entire day at Topkapi Palace - Dad puttıng images to all his historical knowledge and learning some new information as well, and both of us bewildered at the sheer immensity of beauty, accomplishment, and most of all, ritz and glamor of the sultans. Emeralds and diamonds the size of my entire hand, paling in comparison to the crown jewels given as gifts from European monarchies, and probably worth more than the entire state of Tennessee.

The following day we went to Ayasofya (Hagia Sofia), a reminder of the historical diversity and progression of the empires that have existed in this place. The pictures will all speak and explain more than I could even begin to attempt.

The fourth day we took a break from the city and went on a day trip out to the Prınce’s islands in the Sea of Marmara (where they used to exile the princes, now inhabıted islands). A calm and beautiful boat ride through the Bosphorus to the Sea led us to these quaint, beautiful, and mountainous islands. There are no cars on the islands; the streets are narrow; the hills steep; the water a beautiful, bright blue-green; and the houses a storybook white with clay-brown-red roofs. After comıng back to Istanbul, we ate at a restaurant recommended to me by a Turkish friend from Amsterdam. A very nice kebab place wıth a gorgeous view onto the Golden Horn and the Galata bridge, connecting the European part of the city.

Yesterday, we walked and roamed mostly after going to the Turkish and Islamic art museum at the beginning of the day. We found the Suleymeniye Mosque closed for restorations unfortunately, but all was not lost – we ended up eatıng dinner in a lovely huge, outdoor restaurant where Dad and I sat for a couple of hours after dinner and had tea and coffee, watched a Sufi dancer, listened to some music, and Dad even taught me how to play tawla (backgammon in english, i believe).

Right now Dad is at Friday prayer and I am obviously catching up on emails and things of the like. After he gets out, we are headed to the Spice Market and the Taksim neighborhood and then the plan is to rıde around on the tram until we reach a part of the cıty we feel like exploring – Dad wants to end the week here with an adventure – and well, I am happy to oblige of course – who doesn’t like a good adventure?!

We leave late tonight/early tomorrow morning to Vienna and then Monday we are taking the train to Prague. I will try and write again before we return to Amsterdam the 19th; otherwıse, I will be sure to update and post lots of pictures as soon as we get back.

Miss and love you all.
Peace. Salam.