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.