Birthday dinner & Blue Mosque Light Show

Just up the street from our hotel was the Old House Restaurant which was highly rated on Trip Advisor and a great choice for my birthday dinner. Great food & service as the hospitality extended to tea & baklava. We continued the celebration on the rooftop bar of our hotel, sharing a carafe of raki & watching the sun set behind the Blue Mosque. After the Call to Prayer, we were treated to the nightly light show, a half hour history of the Mosque, broadcast through speakers as the building was lit up by changing brightly colored lights. A spectacular ending to my 60th birthday.
We had become a bit alarmed about the loudly broadcast Call to Prayer which we learned occurred 5 times a day and was expected at sunrise. Our concern was warranted when we were awoken at 3:30 a.m. by the now familiar chanting. Luckily it was short lived and everyone got back to sleep.Read more