Eight of the Junior Fellows, including Marianna and myself, traveled to Istanbul, Turkey for our spring vacation. The two hour flight landed us in Ataturk Airport surrounded by flocks of different nationalities and signs in Turkish. From the beginning it was clear Turkey was much more European than Jordan. The culture change was enticing but being pulled out of the Arabic-speaking world felt abnormal. I had become accustomed to hearing Arabic and was hesitant to exchange it for Turkish. However, our hostel welcomed us and as we settled in it became clear that Istanbul proved as diverse and thriving as it was reputed to be.
Our first site, and one of the most notable, was the Hagia Sophia, a church-turned-mosque with a stunning interior and a rich history. Inside is a muezzin's lounge, for the person leading the Call to Prayer. During this trip I learned that there had been more than one muezzin, in fact there had been several. The restoration in the Hagia Sophia showed a depiction of Jesus, a left over sign of the mosque's previous role as a church.
A two minute walk from the Hagia Sophia was the Blue Mosque, which is still used by practicing Muslims today. The size of the mosque accompanied by its detailed interior is impressive. Because it is a functioning mosque all visitors must remove their shoes before entering and are asked to cover up.
Our next stop was the Basilica Cistern. The Cistern was eerie; it was dimly lit and damp but fascinating.
We also took a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. Who would have thought one could cross continents in 15 minutes? We also spent a whole day at the Topkapi Palace where we were lucky enough to have a tour guide. We learned about the extensive Ottoman history while also ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the architecture, jewelry, clothing, and artifacts. Because the Ottoman Empire was so expansive in its peak, there are many incredible artifacts - such as items belonging to the Prophet Mohammad - that originated in other places than Istanbul.
We were given a tour of the Turkish Cultural Foundation, an organization that strives to promote and share Turkish culture. We were served Turkish tea, shown beautifully crafted kaftans, the type of dress historically worn by Ottoman leaders, and given an overview of the organization's extensive projects. Afterward, one of the junior fellow's family friends generously offered us a boat ride on Bosphorus. The view of Istanbul and its many faces was amazing!
And of course our experience would not have been complete had we not gone to the Grand Bazaar and a Turkish bath. The bazaar was stocked with vendors selling anything you could think of: from leather goods to jewelry to belly dancing costumes. The Turkish bath consisted of hot stone slabs for lying on, a small pool (that we were dismayed to discover was freezing), and beautifully carved fountains. Not only seeing but experiencing Turkish culture, whether by stepping into a Turkish bath or indulging in authentic apple tea, made Turkey one of my favorite places so far.
-Kat
