Intriguing Istanbul

We have just flown out of our home country of New Zealand, for more adventures on the other side of the world. This time to Central Asia to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Marco Polo along the famous Silk Road. Our first stop on the Road, was intriguing Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

Once known as Byzantium and then Constantinople, this Turkish capital straddles the Bosphorus Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This location made it an important stopping point along the Silk Road, the historic trade route that linked China with the west from the 2nd century BCE to the mid-5th century. 

Our hotel on the right, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

Its location has also made it a city of two parts - one very European in look and feel, and the other intrinsically eastern. We stayed in Sultanahmet, the old historic area of Istanbul which is on the European side. Soon after arriving, we were out and about for a first look at the tiny cobblestoned streets and historic places.

Walls of Constantinople (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

The next morning we went sightseeing in earnest, visiting several of the city’s ancient wonders which are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was wonderful seeing interesting monuments and architecture that showed snippets of the various empires that have ruled here. A key stop was Sultanahmet Square, which was once called the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

Marg at the Hippodrome Obelisk (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

This hippodrome/square was, and still is, the heart of the old city and the meeting place of generations of Turkish peoples as far back as the days of chariot racing. It’s quite big, and contains various monuments including a Walled Obelisk, and seven Statues of Porphyrius, a famous 6th century charioteer.

 

Inside Hagia Sophia (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

At the end of the square, we found the Hagia Sophia Mosque, a famous 6th century mosque that is also a museum. We had to wear a head covering and remove our shoes before entering the mosque, then we wandered about enjoying its Byzantine style architecture that includes many beautiful arches, cupolas, columns, and mosaics.

The Blue Mosque (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

Next, we visited the Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, built in the 17th century in the Ottoman architectural style. It is beautiful outside and inside. We especially liked the thousands of tiles that are mostly painted blue, giving the mosque its 'Blue' Mosque name.

Ottoman-era modernised houses, Istanbul, Turkey

Leaving there, we walked along Soğukçeşme Street, a car-free cobbled street just behind Hagia Sophia. It was interesting with its renovated Ottoman-era two and three-story wooden houses. As we wandered along, we were approached by a chappie who, out of the blue said in English: “the Cistern is down there, you’ve missed it”. 

The magical Basilica Cistern (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

Then, revealing himself as a guide, he made an offer too good to refuse, so we went with him into the amazingly beautiful Basilica Cistern. The Cistern was an underground reservoir of fresh water that for many centuries, helped save the residents of old Istanbul as they held out against invaders. Now preserved, it has only enough water to provide magical reflections in its modern lighting.

Our Turkish carpet

As we came out if the Cistern, our guide introduced us to his brother who owns a carpet shop, saying that there would be no charge for the Cistern trip if we visited the shop. Okay, we thought. We don’t have to buy! Yes, well…….after displaying a huge range of carpets and providing the provenance of each, we did buy a very large carpet for our lounge room, and also provided a healthy tip for the tree guys who held it up for ages while we made up our mind.

The Golden Horn of Istanbul, Turkey

After paying for our carpet, we were wined and dined, and offered a ‘free’ sightseeing tour. So we found ourselves in a lovely new electric car, riding around Istanbul‘s sheltered harbour called the Golden Horn, and then visiting the eastern side of the city, seeing sights we may not otherwise have seen. We had a lovely time.

 

Valens Aqueduct (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey

Some highlights were the ancient Valens Aqueduct that carried water to the Basilica Cistern, some of Istanbul’s impressive bridges, and the Beylerbey Palace which sits along the Bosporus. The Palace is quite opulent, being built in the 17th century as a summer residence and a place to entertain visiting heads of state.

View from the Grand Çamlıca Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

We also visited the impressive Grand Çamlıca Mosque, which sits atop Istanbul’s highest point. Built in 2019 and often called the ‘New Mosque', it is the largest mosque in Istanbul. The views of Istanbul from the mosque courtyard were wonderful. By the end of the day, we were happy with our tour, but ready to get back to our hotel and relax.

 

Ottoman architecture (UNESCO), Istanbul, Turkey 

Tomorrow, we fly to Uzbekistan. From there, we’ll travel to the countries of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia taking overall, about 3 months. We’ll post blogs throughout the trip, so watch out for the Uzbekistan blog here.

This is the first in a series of blogs about our travels along the Silk Road of Central Asia.