An overnight flight from Izmir to Istanbul with only this thought on my mind – “Please please.. the next hotel please be better than the one in Kusadasi… I really need a more liveable space to bunk-in while on this tour”.
Much needed of a liveable and comfortable accommodation, my prayers answered – our stay at Crowne Plaza Istanbul in the Old City was one of the best I had for this entire Holy Land Tour. Thanks to your guide and travel agent, we were compensated with an upgrade of our room.
Most people relate Crowne Plaza hotels to be posh, extravagant and extremely sophisticated. Crowne Plaza in the Old City provided a touch of nostalgia and yet sophisticated without overdoing it. The location of the hotel was ideal and within walking distance to the tram stops and rows of shops – of course, confectionery shops. It was like browsing in a stationery shop without knowing what to purchase.
Koska is like the rock star of sweet shops around here, and trust me, the locals are all about it! I mean, it’s a Turkish sweet shop—what’s not to love? Looking through the glass window, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, except instead of toys, it was a treasure trove of sugary goodness I couldn’t even name! Did I buy any? Ha! Of course not! I stumbled upon this legendary candy haven completely by accident with only my trusty camera in hand. Trading that for sweets? Not a chance! This trip had just begun, and I wasn’t ready to sugar crash yet!
Hagia Sophia
Our first tour visit – Hagia Sophia, famous for its massive dome. It has been considered the epitome of Bryzantine architecture and served as a model for many other Ottoman mosques.
Standing at the park between two huge famous monuments, I simply not sure which side to look. Both monuments are captivating that I just wanted to capture this amazing moment of my life standing before them.
Hagia Sophia was once an Orthodox Christian basilica which later became a mosque and now a museum. From the outside, I was not sure what to expect having read its past. This beautiful landmark was undergoing some restorations at the ground floor during our visit.
The Weeping Column – sometimes called the “wishing column”. It is believed that when you stick your thumb and spin a full circle, your wish will come true.
Sultanahmet
The neighbourhood of Sultanahmet has quite a number of iconic landmarks and traditional cafes to offer.
Right at the Sultan Ahmet Park, there are three towering columns.
Obelisk of Theodosius – the top portion of the obelisk was commissioned by Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III to commemorate his victory over the Mitanni in 1450BC. Transported from Egypt by Theodosius I to Constantinople. Lower part of the obelisk was damaged and replaced with the pedestal detailing the victories of Theodosius I.
Serpent Column – an ancient bronze column which said to be part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod. This Column was originally in Delphi and was relocated to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in 324. There should be three serpent heads which seem to have been severed after the end of the 17th century. One of the heads is located in the Istanbul Archaeology museum.
Örme Dikilitaş – a Walled-Obelisk is a Roman monument in the form of an obelisk. The origin of its construction is unknown. However, it was most likely a Theodosian construction to mirror the Obelisk of Theodosius. This Column is sometimes also known as “Constantine’s Obelisk after the inscription added by the Roman emperior Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, who repaired it in the 10th century.
Column of Constantine – this is one column which does not stand at Sultan Ahmet Park. The Column of Constantine is a Roman monument built by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. The column which once possibly supported a statue of the emperor both fell down after eight centuries. Also due to a fire, the column now looked blackened and burnt. Today the column is supported by iron reinforcing hoops to the shaft.
I can’t help but wonder how possibly did ancient civilization remove and transport such colossus without the use of modern technology? Scrutinise the carvings and wonder how did the ancient stone masons cut these granites with such precision. That’s simply amazing.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world – 61 covered streets and approximately 4,000 shops. The development of the building was completed after 1730. This Bazaar is huge and there has more than 1 entrance. It takes at least a day to browse the shops in this Bazaar.
It is becoming a norm to have metal detectors, security bag checks and armed security forces almost everywhere in Israel, Jordan and Turkey that by the time I got to the Grand Bazaar, it no longer bothers me. However, should anyone tend to be stressed over this, it is best to just stay calm and remember that it is just for the sake of security.
Tip: Shopaholics – please make sure that you have more than a day to spare for this Grand Bazaar. There are more than one entrance/exit so make sure you are specific if you are meeting someone at the entrance/exit.