So today, we went to Topkapi Palace today, fording mid sized streams to get there and only getting slightly lost. Thanks to the kindness of strangers at other hotels, we were redirected to the big open area where all the major sites (and tour buses) were. Blue Mosque! Hagia Sophia! I had to marvel just a bit at the Hagia Sophia, taking a picture even though it was pouring rain. It's just as impressive as I'd imagined, and yes, there is wifi nearby. Skype plan is ON!
We got up to Topkapi Palace and got our tickets, our audio guide. My mom said Istanbul was impressive but not beautiful and I could sort of see that there. It's not restored much and while inside is very elaborate, outside was sort of blah. But the treasury was AMAZING with tons of jewels and gold, and the reliquary was full of wonders including hairs from Muhammad's beard and the supposed staff of Moses (note to self: find decomposition rate of wood). I love relics, I've said that before.
We went into the harem too, which was all fancy tiles. It got a little overwhelming. It was beautiful but sort of too busy for my taste. All the patterns mixed together was dizzying. I tried to zoom in on some close ups for pictures.
The archaeology museum had some cool sarcophagi but I was more impressed with a delicious Ottoman dinner - some beef on pita concoction after an appetizer of cucumber yogurt dip. We got Turkish delight and baklava on the way home, along with a change of clothes for tomorrow since ours are still missing.
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