Friday October 11, 2019
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Before we started out on Friday, there was a major chore.
Since we’re flying on Monday to Tel Avia, we began to research the method to arrive at the airport. Istanbul has three airports and we believe we’re flying out of the new airport. When we turned in the rental car on Monday, we dropped that off at the old airport. So, we need to find out the proper airport.
Another consideration was actually finding transportation. There’s usually the taxi but that tends to be expensive and if the driver senses you’re a foreigner, we were told the price increases dramatically. We like to use public transportation and in our travels around the city, Waynette found a bus with an airport logo.
Plus, we were told we could get a bus from the Yenikapi metro stop and so we explored that angle. We took the Marmaray regional line to Yenekapi and began our search. In time, we found the airport bus stop and now, we’re okay with getting out to the airport. Now, we have to found out which one, but that should not be an issue.
Satisfied with this accomplishment, we set out on “museum day.”
First, we went to the Hagia Eirene Monument on the grounds near Topkapi Palace. This structure was built of wood in 330 A. D. and rebuilt after destroyed during he Nika riot in 532. After Constantinople fell, the building served as an arsenal and in 1869 opened as the first official museum of the Ottoman state. Today, the interior is not furnished, and pigeons seem to rule the grounds. Still, the architecture is offers elements of Moorish influence and series of columns.
From here, we walked over to the Basilica Cistera, and across the tram tracks from the Blue Mosque. This was constructed by the Roman emperor Justinian in the 6th century to meet water requirements. The interior consists of 336 marble columns and is currently under renovation. Small pools of water remain on the floor and only a few walkways through this darken structure allow visitors access.
Because we had a late start and consumed by finding airport transportation, the hour drew after 3 p. m. and more museums awaited. Since we did not have time on Wednesday, we hit the archaeological museum, which is also located in close proximity to Topkapi Palace.
Divided into three distinct museums, the structures include the main archaeological museum, the museum of the ancient orient and the titled kiosk museum. Each is spectacular by itself and together form a unique triangle of world-class cultural institutions.
The Archaeological Museum features pieces from Greek and Roman antiquity and tombs of the period. Of particular interest was the biography and work of Osman Hamdy Bey (1843-1910), influential artist, museum administrator and archaeologist. It was Bey who began to place funerary objects in Turkey and is credited with establishing the three museums of this complex.
The Museum of Ancient Orient displays objects from pre-Islamic, the Mesopotamia and the Anatoila (present day Turkey). The tile museum was built by Sultan Mehmet in 1472 and contains over 2000 titles and ceramic objects from the 11th century to the 20th century.
Though the museum complex was open until 7, we were done. Officially, I hit the wall at 6:03 and looked at my iPhone to determine the time. Too much walking and pounding the payment.
At that point, we decided to return to the Asian side of Katikoy for dinner but stopped at an information booth before for any additional information about a bus the airport. There, we met Erol, who spoke fluent Turkish, Russian and English. Friendly and jovial, he helped with a few bus options and then his girlfriend, who is from Russia, popped into the reception area. Erol gave us some travel tips for tomorrow and what to experience. he also threw in a comments on the Turkish political situation and explained he spent five years living in Russia.
We thanked him and then took the ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy. In search of dinner, we settled on a fish restaurant and shared a sea bream and salad. This was excellent and agreed that was the best dinner we’ve had in the nearly two weeks here in Turkey.
For Saturday, we’ll take Erol’s advice and head to the southwest part of the city and an area filled with beaches, shops, and an Aquarium. He also suggested the best pizza place in the city which is located in that area. That’s okay Erol, we’ll write our own restaurant review.
For Friday, another day of walking and we did 6.7 miles, or 14,540 steps.
PICTURES – images from “museum day” and our dinner
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