A few years ago my dad asked my sister and I if we would meet up with him overseas. Istanbul was one of his favorite cities and we just had to come see it. We toured the city, seeing every mosque and museum in the area. I tried so many new things, like Turkish Coffee, Hookah, and was bathed in a Hammam. We even got to enjoy a day at the Black Sea which ended with us hitchhiking back home (thank you friendly local). It was an unforgettable trip to say the least.
2014
Istanbul
My sister exploring the Grand Bazaar
Turkish delights in every color
The city was full of people and vibrant with colors. We walked around the Bazaar and went to several other markets, stopping to enjoy Turkish Tea at the Topkapi Palace which overlooks the Bosphorus Strait and Asia.
Tea with a view at Topkapi Palace
The night would bring out many of the locals, who would smoke and converse around the colorful fountains with music playing in the background. Cafe's and bars lined the streets, full of customers either watching soccer on TV or the street performers right outside.
The fountain in Sultanahmet Park on a crowded night in Istanbul
Purple
Red
Blue
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was seeing the Hagia Sophia. It has been standing for more than 1400 years, and our hotel happened to be right by it. We spent ample time admiring its architecture and taking photos. During our visit it was lit up at night with a message of solidarity to the Palestinian people:
"No one should ever be left lonely".
The Hagia Sophia with a message of peace
We visited the Basilica Cistern, built underground by the Romans as a water filtration system during their reign of Constantinople, now known as modern day Istanbul. Afterwards we saw the beautifully modern architecture and foliage at the Mall of Istanbul.
Basilica Cistern build underground by the Romans
Mall of Istanbul
Even with all our historical sight-seeing, we also experienced the modern world in Istanbul. The Gaza riots were in full force, and Istanbul was a hot spot for rioters to express their view. We were fortunate to be in a relatively safe area of Turkey, and protestors in Istanbul were peaceful. It was eye-opening to learn about the history and politics of the region with the riots ongoing nearby.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul
Several other mosques were around the area, such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Our travel also happened to align with Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic holiday commemorating the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Prayers would be blasted over megaphones everywhere around the city, and people everywhere would participate in worship and celebration.
An Ablution fountain outside the Hagia Sophia. Muslims use these fountains for Wuḍūʾ, in which they wash their body before prayer and handling the Qur'an
The minarets with speakers to call on worshippers 5 times each day
Sultanahamet Park the day before Eid al-Fitr began
The Hague Sophia
Hippodrome Of Constantinople
Although the flight home was long and tiresome, I had so much to think about and reflect on from my trip. It was a culture shock for me, and taught me so much about people and life. I am grateful to have been able to experience it with my dad and sister.
