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Europe 2016
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Europe 2016

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  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Hagia Sophia

    July 8, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    And so it begins.

    Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum.

    Hagia Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, cathedral built at Constantinople now Istanbul in the 6th century it is the most important Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great monuments.

    The Hagia Sophia was built in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537. The Hagia Sophia combines a longitudinal basilica and a centralized building in a wholly original manner, with a huge 32 metre main dome supported on pendentives and two semi domes, one on either side of the longitudinal axis. In plan the building is almost square. There are three aisles separated by columns with galleries above and great marble piers rising up to support the dome. The walls above the galleries and the base of the dome are pierced by windows, which in the glare of daylight obscure the supports and give the impression that the canopy floats on air.

    The original church on the site of the Hagia Sophia is said to have been ordered to be built by Constantine I in 325 on the foundations of a pagan temple. His son, Constantius II, consecrated it in 360. It was damaged in 404 by a fire that erupted during a riot following the second banishment of St. John Chrysostom, then patriarch of Constantinople. It was rebuilt and enlarged by the Roman emperor Constans I. The restored building was rededicated in 415 by Theodosius II. The church was burned again in January 532, a circumstance that gave an opportunity to envision a splendid replacement. The structure now standing is essentially the 6th century edifice, although an earthquake caused a partial collapse of the dome in 558 and restored in 562 and there were two further partial collapses, after which it was rebuilt to a smaller scale and the whole church reinforced from the outside. It was restored again in the mid 14th century. For more than a millennium it was the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was looted in 1204 by the Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade.

    Although many scholars have studied Hagia Sophia over the years the building has never been completely documented. New discoveries may yet be made. In the 1990s, during emergency repairs on the dome, workers uncovered graffiti that had been scrawled by tenth-century repairmen, imploring God for protection as they worked from scaffolds 150 feet above the floor.

    Daunting work must be done for Hagia Sophia to survive for future centuries. Old buildings like Hagia Sophia are ignored until there’s an emergency. They’re put back together and then forgotten about until the next emergency. Meanwhile, there is a continual deterioration. Huge sections of ceiling are peeling and flaking, stained by water seepage and discolored by age and uneven exposure to light. Acres of stucco must be replaced. Windows must be repaired, new glass installed, warped frames replaced. Hundreds of marble panels, now grime encrusted, must be cleaned. Irreplaceable mosaics must somehow be restored and protected.

    The building is beautiful but you can definitely see the wear and tear of the centuries.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Blue Mosque

    July 8, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The Blue Mosque is lovely inside and I had to change into appropriate coverage before entering. Once we entered the vast dome it is very impressive albeit very touristy with people on phones and even eating I found this inappropriate as it is should be a place to pray and reflect not sit, chat and eat.

    The Blue Mosque is an historical mosque in Istanbul and is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design.

    Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 years, during the rule of Ahmed it is just like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasa and a hospice.

    The Mosque has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development. It incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. In the middle it has a big fountain. On the upper side it has a big chain. The upper area is made up of 20,000 ceramic tiles each having 60 tulip designs. In the lower area it has 200 stained glass.

    The Interior features the prayer area and the main dome.

    The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while at gallery level their design becomes flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit and cypresses. The price to be paid for each tile was fixed by the sultan's decree, while tile prices in general increased over time. As a result, the quality of the tiles used in the building decreased gradually.

    The upper levels are dominated by blue paint. More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light, today assisted by chandeliers. On the chandeliers, ostrich eggs are found that were meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders and the decorations include verses from the Quran. The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by the faithful and are replaced regularly. Each semi-dome has 14 windows and the central dome 28. The coloured glass for the windows was a gift of the Signoria of Venice to the sultan. Most of these coloured windows have by now been replaced by modern versions with little or no artistic merit.

    The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. It is surrounded by many windows. The adjacent walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles. To the right of the mihrab is the richly decorated pulpit, where the imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days. The mosque has been designed so that even when it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see and hear the imam.

    The great tablets on the walls are inscribed with the names of the caliphs and verses from the Quran.

    The courtyard is about as large as the mosque itself and is surrounded by a continuous vaulted arcade . The central hexagonal fountain is small relative to the courtyard. The monumental but narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out architecturally from the arcade. Its semi-dome has a fine stalactite structure, crowned by a small ribbed dome.

    Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. Each of these fluted, pencil-shaped minarets has three balconies with stalactite corbels, while the two others at the end of the forecourt only have two balconies.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Obelisk

    July 8, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The Obelisk of Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmosis III in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square was originally erected in 15th century BC at the temple of Karnak, on the occasion of his second jubilee. In the old times obelisks were always erected in pairs.

    It's a one-piece pink granite obelisk carved in Aswan. Originally it was over 30 meters tall and weighting around 380 tons, today only 19 meters are left of it. The obelisk was brought from Karnak to Constantinople by emperor Theodosius I in 390 AD, in order to decorate the Hippodrome. It's the oldest monument that you can see in Istanbul.    Read more

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    Taskim Square

    July 8, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Back to the Hotel for a little while then a walk to Taskim Square we where had a typical Turkish dinner and dessert.

    Taksim Square is a busy shopping and dining district and a 5 min walk from the Hotel. Vintage trams go along the streets of the city’s main pedestrian boulevard, which is lined with 19th-century buildings housing international shopping chains, movie theatre's and cafes. Heaps of streets contain bars, antique shops, and rooftop eateries with Bosphorus views.Read more

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    Topkapi Palace

    July 9, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We hit the road running today as so many items on the list, first was Topkapi Palace.

    In the 15th century, the palace was the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. Construction began in 1459, six years after the conquest of Constantinople. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire. The complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. Female members of the Sultan's family lived in the harem, and leading state officials, including the Grand Vizier, held meetings in the Imperial Council building.

    After the 17th century, Topkapı gradually lost its importance as the sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosphorus. Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, Topkapı was transformed into a museum by a government decree dated April 3, 1924. The Topkapı Palace Museum is administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public today. The complex is guarded by officials of the ministry as well as armed guards of the Turkish military. Which made it difficult to get any photo's in museum as it is not allowed.    Read more

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    Bosphorus Cruise

    July 9, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The Cruise on the Bosphurs next.

    Bosphorus is a natural strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It's length is 32km north to south, the width varies between 730-3300 metres and depth is between 30-120 metres. Bosphorus strait separates the European part from the Asian part of Istanbul.

    The cruise was lovely sitting in the sun relaxing taking in the incredible beautiful houses, boats and scenery. What made this even better is we won it in a general knowledge competition on the River Duchess. Lucky us we are smarter than we thought.    Read more

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    Spice Bazzar

    July 9, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Not far from were we went on the cruise is the Spice Market. I have been looking forward to this since arriving in Turkey. The stalls are more permanent than a table set up and it is all inside like a shopping arcade. We went expecting it to be very busy but thankfully for us it was quiet so we could take our time wandering around and taking everything in. We walked around selecting our purchases and then finished off by checking out the many spice stalls. It was very hard to work out which ones to buy especially as the tour guide could not confirm if we could take them back to Australia. We purchased a few and crossed our fingers for when we return home. We did enjoy the markets but I think one visit is all that is needed unless you need spice.Read more

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    City Tour back to the Hotel

    July 9, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Back on the bus now for a small City Tour then back to the Hotel. We certainly have enjoyed our day and look forward to more days in this fascinating city of Istanbul.

    After a rest and change of clothes at the Hotel we then went back to Taskim Square for a walk around and dinner with some people from the cruise as this was the end of the Uniworld Cruise. Tomorrow we are on our own doing what, where and when we choose.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    European Adventure continues Ada Hotel

    July 10, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Checked out of the Hotel InterContinental this morning and moved to the Ada Hotel which we will call home for 4 days. This time we actually have an apartment so I can cook some meals, well maybe, still on holidays.

    We now feel like we are more like locals so we can enjoy what Istanbul has to offer. The view from the balcony overlooks the Bosphuros and houses.    Read more

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    Old Town Istanbul

    July 10, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    All unpacked and ready day as Angelina would say. As we are here a few days, today is all about walking around the area and getting our bearings so tomorrow we can become tourists again.

    We are really surprised that there are hardly any people on the streets which is good for us as it is easy to walk around and take our time when we come to a place of interest. I am sure though that the Turkish people are finding it difficult with not that many tourists.Read more

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    Yummy home cooked breakfast

    July 11, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    This morning started with a walk from our apartment up the street to the main Hotel for a yummy breakfast. Whilst our apartment is nice the Hotel part is quite run down but the view from the breakfast area is lovely. Breakfast was very nice we even tried the Turkish coffee and homemade Turkish delight.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Basilica Cistern

    July 11, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    This morning we went for a nice walk to the Basilica Cistern this was a recommendation from one of the people went met on the cruise. I am glad we went as it is an incredible structure.

    The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). The cistern was built in the 6th century. The 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 was reconstructed after a fire in 476.

    Ancient texts indicated that 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 cathedral size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 138 metres by 65 metres about 9,800 square metres in area capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water.

    The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 metres high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 5 metres apart. The tops of the columns are mainly Ionic and Corinthian styles, with the exception of a few Doric style with no engravings. One of the columns is engraved with raised pictures of a Hen's Eye, slanted branches, and tears. This column resembles the columns of the Triumphal Arch of Theodosius I from the 4th century. Ancient texts suggest that the tears on the column pay tribute to the hundreds of slaves who died during the construction of the Basilica Cistern. The majority of the columns in the cistern appear to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings likely brought to Constantinople from various parts of the empire, together with those that were used in the construction of Hagia Sophia. They are carved and engraved out of various types of marble and granite.

    Fifty-two stone steps descend into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 metres and coated with a waterproofing mortar. The Basilica Cistern's water came from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Centre in the Belgrade Forest, which lies 19 km north of the city. The cistern has the capacity to store 100,000 tons of water. It is virtually empty today with only a few feet of water lining the bottom. The weight of the cistern lies on the columns by means of the cross-shaped vaults and round arches of its roof.

    The Basilica Cistern has undergone several restorations since its foundation. The first of the repairs were carried out twice during the Ottoman State in the 18th century. The second major repair was completed during the 19th century (1876–1909). Cracks to masonry and damaged columns were repaired in 1968, with additional restoration in 1985 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Museum. During the 1985 restoration, 50,000 tons of mud was removed from the cisterns, and platforms built throughout to replace the boats once used to tour the cistern. The cistern opened to the public in its current condition on 9 September 1987.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Basilica Cistern

    July 11, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Located in the northwest corner of the cistern, the bases of two columns blocks are carved of Medusa. The origin of the two heads is unknown, it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. There is no written evidence that suggests they were used as column pedestals previously. Tradition has it that the blocks are oriented sideways and inverted in order to negate the power of the Gorgons Gaze.Read more

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    Living like Locals and Valens Aqueduct

    July 11, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Being a local is hard work. We are doing so much walking and trying to do so many things whilst in Istanbul. We took the local transport to the other side of the city to check out the Aqueduct.

    The Valens Aqueduct (Aqueduct of the Grey Falcon) is a Roman construction which was the major water-providing system of the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey). Completed by Roman Emperor Valens in the late 4th century AD, it was maintained and used by the Byzantines and later the Ottomans, and remains one of the most important landmarks of the city.

    Really feeling like locals.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Whirling Dervishes

    July 11, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Looking forward to this it is so mesmerising not sure why they do not get giddy.

    The ritual of the whirling dervishes is an act of love and a drama of faith. It possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual dervish strive to achieve a state of a trans. Music that accompanies the whirling from beginning to end and is sort of somber its effect is intended to be mesmerizing. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a synthesis which, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, ecstasy and a mystical flight.

    We did not feel everything it mentions above but we did enjoy the performance, reading the history and culture of this intriguing dance or whirl.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Turkish Bath

    July 12, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Whilst in Turkey you must try a Turkish bath so we did a very different type of experience but still enjoyable.

    A Turkish Bath is a type of public bathing associated with the culture of the Ottoman Empire and more widely the Islamic world. It is a method of cleansing and relaxation.,

    The buildings are similar to the thermal Roman baths. The process involved in taking a Turkish bath sort of like a sauna but not really.

    This is not something you do as a couple, boys to the left and girls to the right. The staff did not speak much English so we communicated in sign language. First they show you to a room and you are given paper undies and a robe . You then proceeded to a beautiful hot room with naked ladies laying down on a slab of marble relaxing and some being washed. Even the staff are naked and they are not trim and terrific so you did not feel uncomfortable. So anyway you laydown on this hot slab looking up at the most beautiful ceiling and with the heat of the slab and the air you just perspire freely. After laying there for a while it was my turn to be scrubbed and washed and I mean scrubbed all over. Then I had to sit up and have my head on the ladies tummy so she could wash my hair, to wash of the suds warm water is poured over you, but then you go to another section where you had cold water poured over your head. It was fun and I would have a Turkish bath again.

    Not many pictures as who wants to see naked bodies.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Traditional Dinner

    July 12, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    As this is our last night in Turkey a traditional meal was required. Just up the street from our apartment are a number of resturants but one in particular seemed the right fit to try the Turkish Clay pot meal. It interesting watching the preparation and the smashing of the clay pot.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Dubrovnick here we come

    July 13, 2016 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Very early this morning we have to catch our flight at 4:45am.

    This flight is Business Class, it is very busy and the largest airport lounge I have seen. They will even cook your eggs as you like for breakfast.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Stopover Zagreb

    July 13, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    This flight has a 5 hour layover in Zagreb. YUK.

    Even though we are business class Croatia Airlines did not have a business class lounge in Zagreb domestic airport. Our flight originally had a 2 hr layover from Istanbul then Croatia Airlines cancelled flights and put us on a flight with a 5 hr layover.

    All I can say that so far this has been the only part of the holiday that has been horrible.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Dubrovnik - Croatia

    July 13, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Finally arrived in Dubrovnik all safe and sound after the coup in Istanbul, not that we knew anything about it, we had passed over the bridge a number of times.

    Home is an Air BNB for 5 days, it is very nice and only a short walk from Old Town. All unpacked and even the grocery shopping finished. Now to walk into Old Town for some sightseeing and dinner.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Old Town for Dinner

    July 13, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ 30 °C

    We took a bus into Old Town for Dinner and enjoyed delightful cocktails over looking Blackwater Bay (Game of Thrones name) not the real name. Was very relaxing, so much to see and do. Our walking and touring will start tomorrow.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Stairs to Old Town

    July 14, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Our morning started with a 20 min walk down heaps and heaps of steps into Old Town. Surprisingly even though lots of steps and my knee did hurt it was a very pretty walk. We will be doing this walk heaps so hopefully my knee holds out. We might have to get the bus back each day but the walk is wonderful exercise.Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Old Town

    July 14, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Walked completed down to Old Town now to start our walking around. We booked into a walking tour so we could get an understanding of the history, buildings and stories of the medieval walled city.

    Old Town is jutting out into the Adriatic Sea with a backdrop of rugged limestone mountains. Dubrovnik Old Town is known as one of the world’s finest and most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. For centuries, Dubrovnik rivalled Venice as a trading port, with its huge sturdy stone walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries.    Read more

  • We are Living the DreamEurope 2016Traveler

    Old Town Dubrovnik

    July 14, 2016 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today the walls enclose Dubrovnik’s historic centre. You can get incredible views of the Pearl of the Adriatic and the surrounding lush green islands by walking on the walls which we actually did not do . Dubrovnik’s Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces, renaissance fountains and facades, are all intertwined with gleaming wide marble-paved squares, steep cobbled streets and houses, all of which have also remained unchanged for centuries.

    Simply a beautiful place even though it is a little crowed, it is very serene.    Read more

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