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Turkey: Istanbul – Adventurous Vacation II

Published: 3.8.2014
We are at the horse market. If you have imagination, you can still hear horses. It is here where the Hippodrome used to stand, it was a racing circuit for chariots of four horses. The race took place every year and the Caesar attended it every time. The audience divided into two groups, greens – regular citizens; and blues – nobility.

hipodrom In the middle of the Hippodrome is imported three columns. The snake column comes from Delphi, where it was dedicated to the god Apollo for the victory at Salamis during the Greco-Persian wars. Another, the Column of Constantine from Aswan granite, which used to be covered with copper plates. They were gold-plated, so the Crusaders took it as their booty and the column is now quite uninteresting. But the best is the Column of Egypt . Well, just one third of the original column remained. Galatska vezOriginally it was carved from a single piece of stone, but due to transport by boat it had to be cut into three parts. Two ships but also cargo sank and left only this highest part described inf hieroglyphs. Don’t you know kind of gift would please the sultan? Emperor Wilhelm comfort him with a beautiful fountain located in front of the Hippodrome. The fountain was built in the Neoclassical style. Certainly Kaiser Wilhelm managed to please the sultan.

nadrazi Orient expresu And now we find ourselves at the station of the famous Orient Express, used in the novels of Agatha Christi . As if I was seeing a steam locomotive in a haze of mist entering the station and emitting steam. This used to be the last station on a 2900 km long journey of the famous Orient Express, the luxury train that is until now the symbol of exoticism and romance. Because of this station was built Hotel Pera Palace , which housed such ladies as Mata Hari , Josephine Baker And do not forget Agatha Christi ...

We hurry on across the Galata bridge and by elevator to the Galata Tower. From there the very first men did a first flight, a Turkish above the Bosporus. The sultan saw him from his Topkapi Palace window and was horrified that now people think that it is more powerful than the Sultan himself. Therefore invited him to an audience, gifted by generous donations and sent into exile in Egypt, there the unfortunate pilot spent the rest of his life.

mesita eminonu

We set a short distance to get back across the Galata Bridge, back to the Eminonu Square , where I was "lucky" ... A pigeon sent his crap on my shoulders. There are clouds of pigeons, so nothing unusual. It is said that after this "event" you have to buy a ticket that is guaranteed to win. Therefore, there are so many people selling tickets…

mesita eminonu

Climb the stairs to the Eminonu Mosque, which is beautifully decorated and I admire the magnificent stucco, painted tiles, mosaics and beautiful carpets. Some pray, so there is a respectful silence that is enhanced by the sacred atmosphere. And now it's getting dark, so we go to get us some durum kebab and ayran (salty drink of plain yogurt mixed with water). And then just the blue mosque playing with its light in the dark, which I have already mentioned. That's all for today. The last journey of the day leads only to the bed.

To be continued...

Text/photo: Sylvie Halouzková



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