I’m heading to the top floor for our info session at 8:00 a.m. after another late night (I’m not complaining). I step off the elevator and WOW! The Blue Mosque is right in front of me. Yes, I walked around it last night, I know it is there but to exit the elevator on your way to class and see it right in front of you is truly spectacular! It reminds me I am in Istanbul, Turkey, in this wonderful historical place.

I Passed the Dress Test!
So, today we went to the Blue Mosque. It is called this because the tiles inside are the famous Iznik blue tiles. It was so crowded with tourists that it made me really appreciate the mosques we visited in the other towns. Yes, it is beautiful but it still doesn’t compete with the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. So, as we get close to the entrance there are racks of robes with scarves and two guys telling people to take one or motioning them through if they are dressed appropriately. I Passed The Test!

This mosque was built to rival Hagia Sophia which is right across the park from it. It was commissioned by Sultan Mehmed who was suppose to be rather absent minded (Katie, you will like this story). At the Sultan’s entrance there is a chain part way up. It is to prevent the Sultan from forgetting to dismount and riding his horse into the mosque courtyard. It is built by a student of Sinan, 1100 years after San Sofia (Hagia Sophia, this building has three different names, four with the translation, “Holy Wisdom”). The dome of the Blue mosque stands on elephant legs, four marble pillars. It would have been lit with olive oil lamps.

We also walked through the location of the Hippodrome, built for horse races and festivals. There is a large Egyptian obelisk brought to Constantinople (the other name of this city) in the 390’s A.D. from Egypt.

To get a feel for the Byzantine era we visited a museum with the mosaic floors from the palace. They were amazing.

Then it was on to the cisterns, built by the Byzantine emperor, Justinian, they supplied water for the Hagia Sophia. They are deep underground and for years they had been filled with garbage and forgotten. Finally they were rediscovered, cleaned out, and opened to the public. I’m told they even hold concerts in them. The pictures turned out pretty dark but yes, those are fish swimming in there!

This evening we went to Bahcesehir University and met with the teaching department at the university to compare education in both of our countries. They have a fabulous view of the Bosporus and rolled out the red carpet, with a reception following the meeting.

As we returned to the hotel, the park was filled with people picnicking and enjoying the Ramazan festival. Unfortunately for us, their festivities went on until about 4:00 in the morning, or maybe longer, that is when I stopped hearing them and finally fell asleep! :(. It is going to be a “two Turkish coffee day”!