DAY 19 - HAREKE

19) SATURDAY, 16 JULY 1977 : 67KMS. - HAREKE
 

I was awaken in the middle of the night because of shrilling cries from the mosque. It was the sermon sound of Koran. I thought I was dreaming but finally realized that I was in ISTANBUL.

ISTANBUL - Photo : Bing images search

In the morning we went to see pretty invaluable things in the Topkapi Museum, a former palace of Sultan having ruled ISTANBUL in ancient times.

Topkapi palace - Photo : Bing images search

There were  Chinese porcelains of Sung Dynasty and Yuan ( approximately 14-19 century ) and Japanese ones. They are all having beautiful designs, some items are very big. I understaood that it was made ​​from China by order of Sultans to be used in the palace, or perhaps a gift from the Chinese dynasties.

Chinese porcelain - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search

There are an emerald dagger hilt and huge diamond named Topkapi on display. I remembered Hollywood  film “Topkapi” about a criminal operation to steal the diamond and jewelries from the museum. 

Topkapi Emerald Dagger - PHOTO : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

There are so many precious ornaments of many different kinds, all colors, all sizes, and shapes, including gold, diamond , emerald, ruby ​​and sapphire. They are all dazzled beyond description. One has to see with his own eyes. This wealth would demonstrate military might of the Ottoman Empire at her peak in the past. 

Topkapi Daimond 86 karats pearl shape - Photo : By Swamibu (Flickr / Bing images search) 

Imperial Hall with the Throne of Sultan - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search
 

One thing that I felt pity not having seen in the Topkapi palace, was a harem of Sultan because there were so many people waiting. Anyway, I thought we would have a chance to visit somewhere on the way, perhaps in Iran. In the Topkapi, there was also dead bodies and parts of the Prophet Mohamed  of Islam as well.

Gate of Salutation,Topkapi Palace - Photo : Wikipedia.org / Bing images search

In the afternoon, we went to see a traditional market known as bazaar  selling everything  such as copper pots and trays, gold ,marble vases,   rugs, watches, etc. I did not intend to buy anything. Most  tourists came to visit the bazaar,  causing goods prices more expensive.

 

Istanbul Grand Bazaar - Photo : Babak Gholizadeh / Bing images search

After visiting the bazaar, we had our lunch at local restaurant  for curry. It was not bad but I did not like strong smell of meat  mixed with rice we had. I thought  it was goat meat  or  mutton !

What we found in ISTANBUL, the same as we saw in ATHENS  was a vehicl selling roasted corn and boiled corn general (in ATHENS only roasted corn available) as well as cucumbers,  the size as big as of the mangoes. Passer-by stopped to pick one he liked and handed it to the seller to peel it  before  biting it while strolling. It is a good idea  for tropical climate as cucumber is fairly plain tasteless, it help getting rid of  our thirst, probably better than buying water to drink. I saw here there was also a boy carrying a bucket of drinking water for sale to those who were thirsty.

 

Bosphorus Bridge - Photo : Lari Lazim / BING images search

Almost 7.30 pm., we left ISTANBUL on the direction towards the Asian side. We drove on the bridge BOGAZICI, which was built across the strait of BOSPHORUS in 1973, linking Europe and Asia . We had to pay for using  the bridge at 15.- TL . About  8.00 pm, we reached at another end while it was not dark yet  so we continued to  HEREKE for camping overnight.

Au revoir mes amis ...good bye ... Europe of fond remembrance.

IV. TURKEY – LIMESTONE TERRACED POOL AND MYSTERIOUS CAVES VALLEY

DAY 18

18) FRIDAY, 15 JULY 1977 : 272KMS. - ISTANBUL
 

We drove on the long bridge across the river Ebros into the territory of TURKEY at the border town IPSALA. No problem for entering formality but waiting time was a bit long because there were many tourists at the checkpoint (with soldiers holding guns on duty).  

Greece-Turkey border - Photo : skyscrapercity.com / Google images search

The sight over the bridge was endless sunflower fields stretching to the horizon, the Greek soldiers patrolling  in their respective area. I knew in the German language class, after enrolling at  Universität Stuttgart from my Turkish and Greek classmates that the two countries  were seemingly incompatible. Both countries tried to usurp the supreme authority in possessing Cyprus.

We left the border checkpoint around noon time. The road now was up and down  "three miles up, three miles down!"  and "acres and acres of sunflower!"  like the Australian guy told us. It was very pleasant and relaxing to see the beauty view along the way until we reached ISTANBUL.  Probably this was a kind of cropping rotation,  a second crop growing after wheat harvesting. I did not see any bee-keeping box (for collection of honey) near sunflower fields, the same as in Yugoslavia.

Photo : Bing images search

From IPSALA, we drove  through TEKRIDAG  and SILIVR. Byzantine churches of the Greek Orthodox became less to sight but more mosques with high minarets were obvious along the way. We arrived in ISTANBUL around 6.00 pm.

ISTANBUL : Google sattlelite

ISTANBUL (or CONSTANTINOPLE) is a very big city and could be called city of two continents, Asia and Europe , with the Strait of Bosphorus ( connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Marmara). Before entering the city, there are remains of ancient city walls visible from afar. As soon as we passed the city walls, I  began to feel that we were facing heavy congestion because there were a lot of cars and very crowded people. 

Blue Mosque - Photo : Bing images search

Turkish drivers seemed to like “zigzaging” (to swerve) their vehicles out of lanes as well as honking loudly. People were scouting around on both sides of the roads. One would cross the roads anywhere he likes. 

We drove to the central area and parked near the park in front of the well-known Blue Mosque. What we saw inside the mosque was not so beautiful as I had seen from pictures, the work was not so fine.   

Interior of the Blue Mosque - Photo : Bing images search

The mosque was in a poor condition and currently under repair. The workmanship of patterned dome ceiling looks rougher than I thought. It is notable that the mosque is very large. 

Photo : Bing images search

Floor is covered with carpets everywhere,  roughly guessed about a hundred pieces and each one has its unique beautiful pattern - invaluable though.

 

Photo : Bing images search

Before entering the mosque, all Muslims must wash their feet at the washing area provided with faucets in the inner court of the mosque.

“The Pudding Shop” - Old picture - Photo : Bing images search

 

Pudding Shop at a later date - Photo : Bing images search

In the parking area we were camping, there were almost 10-20 cars.  The guards on duty and asked for parking fee of 10.- TL (7 TLire = 1 DM). Nearby there was a cheap hotel for  hippies and a well-known meeting point in general. It was a coffee shop called "The Pudding (Coffee) Shop".

Messages board in the "Pudding Shop"  - Photo : Bing images search

At "The Pudding (Coffee) Shop" there was a board for posting messages, written on small pieces  of  paper with contact addresses. To those travelling to or from Asia and Europe, if they wanted to leave any news or messages they can put them on this board  for others to check them.

For me, ISTANBUL is like ATHENS,  nothing much to see, except the Blue Mosque and the Palace Museum in TOPKAPI and the city is very dirty as well.

DAY 17 - PHERRAI

17) THURSDAY, 14 JULY 1977 : 263KMS. - PHERRAI
 

Leaving IRAKLITSA in the morning, we drove along the way to KAVALA, XANTHE, and KOMOTINI.  There were tobacco plantations on both sides.

Tobacco - Photo : Bing images search

We saw tobacco leaves hanging on line for drying under big trees in house areas all along the roadsides. In the forecourt there were family members selecting and hanging tobacco leaves for drying.  There were army barracks now and then as we were moving near the Greece – Turkey border.  Their relation as neighbours are not so fine because of a dispute over the territory of Cyprus.

Sun-drying tobacco leaves - Photo :  Bing images search

In ALEXANDROUPOLIS, I asked Tilo to stopped on the way to buy watermelon and peaches (26 peaches for 50.- Drachmen).  When I left Germany, I intended to eat as many peaches as I can before leaving Europe as I love this fruit and it is certain that I will have less chance to taste  it so often again when I am back home. 

Photo : lainbloom.blogspot / Bing images search

I saw a Greek vase, painted in red and black with ancient Greek design for a souvenir but it didn’t look so fine as I expected.

Photo : Bing images search

From ALEXANDROUPOLIS, we continued to PHERRAI, where we stopped to camp overnight   near old Byzantine church (900 years old).

Byzantine church in PHERAI -  Photo : studistaralexpoli / Bing images search

Before  PHERRAI, I saw a few buffaloes lying near the road. They looked like those water buffaloes in Thailand but having lighter skin color.