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.