ISTANBUL, TURKEY #11

The flight time from Shanghai to Istanbul, Turkey, took 10 hours and 12 minutes. Everyone was still so tired from Shanghai that we mostly slept in our large 2 by 2 leather seats.  When we arrived and saw our hotel in Istanbul, we all agreed it was the best so far.



 


Beanie and I loved this Four Seasons Hotel...so far our favorite.
 Our room

 Beanie and I thought we would not like Turkey...

As in Shanghai, all the group would stick together here in Turkey. Our first stop was the Hippodrome;

The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos ('ιππος), horse, anddromos (δρομος), path or way. Horse racing andchariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic,Roman and Byzantine eras. 

As you can tell from the picture it is now more like a park. It has been a very long time since there were Roman and Byzantine games,& Ottomon royal weddings there.

 procession of the guilds in front of the sultan, at Hippodrome


in front, Serpent colmn,in back Obeliisk of Thutmoses III
To raise the image of his new capital, Constantine and his successors, especiallyTheodosius the Great, brought works of art from all over the empire to adorn it. The monuments were set up in the middle of the Hippodrome, the spina. 


The base of the Obelisk of Thutmosis III showing Emperor Theodosius as he offers alaurel wreath to the victor from the Kathismaat the Hippodrome.   THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS WE SAW AT THE OUTDOOR PARK.


The next place  was to the Ayasofya Cistern. This was considered to be the greatest church in Christendom. 

  

Ayasofya is awe-inspiring—one of the first things to see when you're in Istanbul. Luckily, it's right next toTopkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque and the ByzantineHippodrome, and right across the street from Yerebatan Sarnıçı, the Basilica Cistern.

NEXT was the Blue Mosque...close by.
 c
 

Beanie and I began to see that we were moving so fast that we couldn't take it all in while there. But I will have my blog pictures as my scrapbook when I get back to Memphis.

Next!! Step right up!!

TOPKAPI PALACE



  

Sultan Mehmed II ordered the initial construction around the 1460s   before Columbus discovered America!!Dudn't that beat all.

The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı^[1] or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى) is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign.^[

As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG!! TO GRAND BAZAAR!!

 Beanie and I just looked but some (like the Detroit wives) bought enough stuff to fill up our jet!!??I might as well admit it. I didn't much like those women. haha.

 vfashionceramicscarpets and textiles  NO WAY TO SHOW IT ALL...BUT INTERESTING!!

NOW....LET'S EAT...AT LAST, AT LAST.
We went to a wonderful restaurant, everything on the menu was taken from recipes of the sultans and other historical figures.
ASITANE RESTAURANT


v What I got...but we weren't afraid of germs, so we all got something different and shared with each other. I must declare that the food was ALL marvelous...of course the face we were starving helped our appetites.
So by sharing we all got a taste of most of the things on the menu.

26. Goose Kebab (1539)27. Savoury Meat Patties (1764)
Chicken stewed with apricots “Rezaki” raisins and almonds, flavoured with cinnamon and cloves. Served with Saffron “Pilaf”

28. Lamb Shank with Spinach“Marmarina” (1764)
Spinach cooked with onions, eggs and rice, topped with garlic yog

29. Borani-i Hassa (XV. yy) (Vegetarian)

30. “Börk” Stew (Vegetarian)Fish Dishes
31. Mackarel “Dolma” (1844)

32. Sea Bass “Biryan” (XV. Century)
Roasted whole sea bass stuffed with walnuts and spices, served with a saffron and rose water dressing
Desserts
33. Pounded Almond “Halva” (1539)

34. “Helatiye”

34. “Zerde’’ (XV. Century)

34. Honey and rosewater “Halwa” (1650) 

Asitane Review

"Clearly, it was good to be the sultan, if he indeed ate at all like you do when you visit Asitane. From records of meals at Topkapi Palace (sans quantities) and delving into the memoirs of foreign diplomats of the time, the chef of Asitane has succeeded in re-creating 200 palace recipes plus about 200 original Ottoman-style recipes. The etli elma dolmasi (apple stuffed with lean diced lamb, rice, currants, pistachio, and rosemary) still makes my mouth water."

Well, I guess saying we were "full" and worse "stuffed" are not very gracious comments. ...but accurate about how we felt. Then a few went night clubbing..and most of us went back to the Four Seasons Hotel for a needed night of sweet sleep. 

We would be heading for St. Petersburg the next morning.....will tell you more as Beanie and i know more...actually we are ready to go home..but more travel awaits us. with love, annie
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