- 3/25/2006
Istanbul, Day 3. Dolmabahce Palace, last home of the sultans as they westernized during the nineteenth century and tried to outdo the rest of Europe at
the whole Palace / Stately Home ideal. Chora Museum, with stunning 12th and 13th century mosaics and frescos. (In this spectacular setting, Ruya answered
her ever-present cell phone to learn that her film "Forsaken Paths" had won the award for Best Documentary at the Ankara International Film Festival.
After she had recovered and we had congratulated her she took a deep breath and continued with, "Anyway, back to the Slaughter of the Innocents...").
Next: a graveyard that included the tombs of Suleyman and Roxelena, and the Sulemaniye Mosque, which is regarded as the height of Islamic religious
architecture. Ate lunch in the nearby soup kitchens - yes, we covered all that before lunch, though we did eat late. Spent the afternoon in the incredible
Spice Market and then the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) and browsed around the many touristy stalls selling scarves, leather, carpets, glassware, lacquer
ware... In the evening we had to pack, and we all, I think, felt like taking a little break. Karen and I got room service and crashed early, but Koji and
Mike went out on the town. Boys will be boys....
