TopKapi Palace Museum…
Being heavily advised to visit the TopKapi palace, I went through the Map several times till I was able to locate it, situated just beyond the Aya Sophia. I packed my map, Lonely Planet’s guide to turkey (a must have, thanks Amto! :)), some money and off I went.
The TopKapi palace is split into four courts, starting with the first, you are welcomed with vast spaces of lush green fields, and to the right the Marmara Sea blooms into view with an air of royalty. Walking through such spaces you start to realize that Istanbul is a romantic city, love is in the air, couples holding hands everywhere, cuddling together on benches and whispering in each other's ears, it surely is a place to create a memory.
On entering the second court things start to get more interesting. To enter this court and anything beyond, you need to buy your ticket, a must have if you want to avoid the scams of tour guides is to rent the audible guide which will guide you through every step in the palace, which I thankfully did acquire, moving through the second courts you get a sense of the size and power of the Ottoman empire, the kitchens on your right sometimes did prepare meals for over 10,000 people a time! On your left, you find the harem and its individual tickets.
Social rituals are a huge part of the late Ottoman culture, and that is apparent in the Harem, or the family headquarters, here, the Sultan, his wife(s), mother, and concubines (sometimes counted to more than 300) gathered and lived as a family, princes got their education and prepared to face the possibility of ruling the empire one day. The lavish settings throughout the harem and especially in the mother's quarters emphasize her importance even in political manners, were her authority was unmatched by anyone other than the Sultan himself.
Leaving the harem you enter the third court of the palace, which holds some of its greatest treasures, whether in the treasury, were gifts from other countries and empires were presented to the Sultan, Or the gifts that the sultan himself gave away to the grave of prophet Muhammad. Continuing within the fourth court DON'T miss passing through the Privy Chambers: The Sacred Trusts Section, it has a collection of Islamic history that you cannot find anywhere else in the world (maybe only in Madina & Mecca), from the earlier keys of the Kaba'a, to the swords of the prophet Muhammad, parts of his beard, to even his footprint when he ascended to the skies.
Ending with a beautiful view of the Marmara Sea in the fourth court, you can enjoy lunch or an early dinner at the only restaurant in the palace (I didn't, by then i only wanted to go home, the palace took me over 6 hours to go through!). Without much thought, I headed home, to my sweet refuge, the guesthouse.
An outing to the True heart of Old Istanbul!
Determined not to waste a second of my stay, taking a shower and resting for a while, I got ready to hit the streets again, when Menteen, the guesthouse owner, suggested a night out in Old Istanbul with some Argileh. While I don't smoke, I went along for the ride, if nothing but his good company, and his stories of scuba diving and east Asia, The scene was a much welcomed relaxation after the morning's wondering.
Sleeping like a baby, I dreamt of my visits to EYÜP the next morning.
Love
Ahmad
No wonder I got no answer when I tried to call your extension :)
Enjoy your vacation.
Hehe, I guess so, am sure Umniah couldn't have survived without me... Will be seeing you soon my friend.