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Steam: my last day/evening in Istanbul
May. 17th, 2004 01:07 pmAfter getting home at 04h00 from the Contest, I feared oversleeping Sunday. Since I wasn’t gonna get much sleep Sunday night (my flight to Frankfurt was at 05h30, necessitating getting up at 03h00), to sleep until noon or later would’ve totally fooked my body. And mind and spirit. So I was relieve that when I dragged my ass to the ‘loo it was only 11h00. I staggered, I abluted, I went out.
A gloriously sunny (but cool, 17C) day. Sunday is a big out-n-about day in Istanbul, and the streets were hopping. I’ve not yet mentioned how stylish a number of Turkishwomen are--including those who dress hijab. Certainly few headscarfed women wore tight jeans (a few did though), but there were many women whose choice of scarf, colour and accessories of dress, and shoes showed not only effort but effect. And while I’m not glossing over gender issues in Muslim countries, modernity has an impact here: most women were smiling, walking alongside their men, and vivacious. Years ago in Jordan, women seemed much more reticent to me.
I jumped in a cab and went to the Blue Mosque. It’s one of the world’s biggest, and the interior is breathtaking. I got in just before the 4th saleh [call to prayer] of the day, and hurried out. Not out of fear but respect: watching heathen/heretical tourists stomp around loudly in Catlick churches in Europe got up my nose; it would be hypocritical to do likewise. Afterwards, I internetted (yesterday’s post ESC wrap-up entry), and found a “nice” resto for lunch. Generally I’d been eating cheaply--easy to do in Istanbul--but since dinner tonight would probably be on the fly I went to a more upscale venue. Lovely facility, decent steak, great service--warm staff. By the time I left my spirit were purged of any hangover or fatigue.
I’d not yet been on the water, so I took the tram to the ferries and did a mini-Bosporus cruise (across and back). I might have taken a photo, but I don’t think so. Relaxing, my mind pretty much tabula rasa throughout. I visited another mosque (the big’un across from the ferries); also lovely. But I suspected getting onto the tourist track (metaphorically) would render my bliss unblissful. So a taxi back to my hotel, and time for another (my 3rd) attempt to find the gay Turkish baths.
( This is sexually explicit )
Shortly thereafter I bathed Turkish one more time, dressed and wandered to my hotel. En route I stopped for a bit of shopping and to have dinner. I packed, settled my bill and went to bed just after 22h30. 03h00 came way too soon, but I made my flight and promptly slept all the way from Istanbul to Frankfurt (2.5 hours). I’ve just had a grand shower here in the Business Lounge (love my gold status Star Alliance), had a great chat with my Man, and am about to board my flight for Hongcouver!
A gloriously sunny (but cool, 17C) day. Sunday is a big out-n-about day in Istanbul, and the streets were hopping. I’ve not yet mentioned how stylish a number of Turkishwomen are--including those who dress hijab. Certainly few headscarfed women wore tight jeans (a few did though), but there were many women whose choice of scarf, colour and accessories of dress, and shoes showed not only effort but effect. And while I’m not glossing over gender issues in Muslim countries, modernity has an impact here: most women were smiling, walking alongside their men, and vivacious. Years ago in Jordan, women seemed much more reticent to me.
I jumped in a cab and went to the Blue Mosque. It’s one of the world’s biggest, and the interior is breathtaking. I got in just before the 4th saleh [call to prayer] of the day, and hurried out. Not out of fear but respect: watching heathen/heretical tourists stomp around loudly in Catlick churches in Europe got up my nose; it would be hypocritical to do likewise. Afterwards, I internetted (yesterday’s post ESC wrap-up entry), and found a “nice” resto for lunch. Generally I’d been eating cheaply--easy to do in Istanbul--but since dinner tonight would probably be on the fly I went to a more upscale venue. Lovely facility, decent steak, great service--warm staff. By the time I left my spirit were purged of any hangover or fatigue.
I’d not yet been on the water, so I took the tram to the ferries and did a mini-Bosporus cruise (across and back). I might have taken a photo, but I don’t think so. Relaxing, my mind pretty much tabula rasa throughout. I visited another mosque (the big’un across from the ferries); also lovely. But I suspected getting onto the tourist track (metaphorically) would render my bliss unblissful. So a taxi back to my hotel, and time for another (my 3rd) attempt to find the gay Turkish baths.
( This is sexually explicit )
Shortly thereafter I bathed Turkish one more time, dressed and wandered to my hotel. En route I stopped for a bit of shopping and to have dinner. I packed, settled my bill and went to bed just after 22h30. 03h00 came way too soon, but I made my flight and promptly slept all the way from Istanbul to Frankfurt (2.5 hours). I’ve just had a grand shower here in the Business Lounge (love my gold status Star Alliance), had a great chat with my Man, and am about to board my flight for Hongcouver!
