ASIANOVERLAND.NET WINTER EUROPEAN DAY 34/207:  HAGIA SOPHIA TO GRAND BAZAAR, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

“14.1.81 ISTANBUL

TOPKAPI PALACE

GRAND BAZAAR

UNDERWATER CISTERN

TURKISH BATH

NATIONAL MEAL (BELLY DANCER)

A real Turkish day. If you are into hedonistic, sensual experiences, then it was a field day and night. Visually (as Kel and Flex can testify), auditorally, alfactory, tactile and palpably the day held pleasurable surprises.

Pip vicariously experienced his future wealth gazing at the precious stones in the Topkapi Palace, which Chris B was seen in silent contemplation of the life and loves of a Sultan. Flex gazed in rapture at the relics of his opposition prophet Mohammed, (making a mental note to save the hairs of HIS beard).

The exotic grand bazaar claimed Joanne and Linda while Chris A succumbed to the delights of Turkish tea. Rowena liked the underwater cistern but was disappointed there was no gondola available.

Kel, being into S and M, was delighted with the treatment he received at the hands of the masseur, while Peter and Regan were content with the milder pummelling, squeezing, kicking, bashing they received. Corrie was once again in ecstasy at being clean, but Marilyn could only appreciate the kinaesthetic quality of the experience due to imparied vision.

Robyn's moment of pleasure came at the 'yummy, yummy, yummy’ dinner, while Vicki motorway was delighted at the quantity of W.C.'s available. Vicki B52 was entranced by the magician's sleight of hand, as Joy was in her element dancing in her lover's arms. "

All of the above was written into our Trip Book 40 years ago, and is amazingly accurate, although I must confess I had never read it until today. Memories ...

The Basilica Cistern, or "Subterranean Cistern", is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres southwest of the Hagia Sophia, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

This subterranean cistern was called Basilica because it was located under a large public square on the First Hill of Constantinople, the Stoa Basilica. At this location, and prior to constructing the cistern, a great Basilica stood in its place, built between the 3rd and 4th centuries during the Early Roman Age as a commercial, legal and artistic centre. The basilica contained gardens, surrounded by a colonnade and facing the Hagia Sophia. According to ancient historians, Emperor Constantine built a structure that was later rebuilt and enlarged by Emperor Justinian after the Nika riots of 532, which devastated the city.

Historical texts claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern.

The enlarged cistern provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapı Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest  markets in the world, with 4,000 shops offering everything you could possibly buy or dream of - gold, leather, jewellery, carpets, textiles …...

The construction of the Grand Bazaar started in 1455, shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, to stimulate economic prosperity in Istanbul, and named bedesten from the Persian word bezestan, meaning "bazaar".

In the 17th century the Grand Bazaar reflected the power of the Ottoman Empire in three continents, and total Ottoman control of road communications between Asia and Europe, making the Bazaar and surrounding  caravanserais, the hub of Mediterranean trade.

In the Bazaar there were 67 roads, each bearing the name of the sellers or makers of a particular specific good or trade - mirrors, spinners, textiles, jewellers, tailers etc. Around 1638, there were 3,000 shops, plus 300 in the surrounding caravanserais comprising two or three stories around a porticoed inner courtyard, where goods could be moved on camels, stored, and merchants lodged.

Next stop is the ancient Turkish Baths (Hamams), built four centuries ago as a public bath-house in classical Ottoman steam bath style, with separate sections for males and females, mostly made of marble. You lay on the ancient marble massage tables naked except for a small modesty wrap, sweating profusely in the steam, while giant masseurs use abrasive mittens to remove layer upon layer of flesh, until your skin is pink and you feel as if you’ve been skinned alive. I'm shocked to read today in our Trip Book that my massage was described as a "milder pummelling..." when I can still feel the layers of skin and flesh being removed by the Istanbul masseurs

For our international night in Turkey, we dine at the Kervansaray Night Club Restaurant, a wonderful Turkish cultural experience, great yummy yummy dinner, and complete with magicians, belly dancers and other Turkish entertainment.

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