(from the journal, November 1-4) The bus climbs over the mountains, which give way to rolling foothills, olive trees, citrus orchards, a nuclear power plant. Granada is chilly but not rainy. “Iglesias del Salvador,” I tell the taxi driver, his Prius delivering us to an easy landmark a stone’s throw from our flat. It is noon. We are the first …
Tangier, Morocco…Note to self: Be careful what you wish for…
NOTE TO SELF: “Be careful what you wish for”… PART I Mysteriously woven in the threads of time and space, a tangible and palpable cellular change begins to take place in our bodies. It’s the eve of my birthday; the moon is ripe and full in Scorpio bliss. Being informed on our arrival that the Medina is not the safest …
ISTANBUL…a vibrantly rich JEWEL of the world.
Today I write to you from the southern part of Spain, in the beach town of Fuengirola. Rays of light cascade through the lightly draped window following an evening and morning of rejuvinating rains. Candles lit, creative vision sparked, reflections of Istanbul swirling and flowing through all the cells of my being offering a look inside, beyond the veil, from …
Into History: The Basilica Cistern and Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts
Sultanahmet is hot, the sun bakes the domes and minarets of Ayasofia, the Blue Mosque, the Hammam and the surrounding buildings. The air cools as we descend into the ancient Basilica Cistern below.
Istanbul Sunset on the Sea of Marmara
We leave the Blue Mosque, head northwest into a local neighborhood. Tourist traps give way to run-down apartments, spartan çay shops and a dearth of trinkets. We enter the courtyard of a school, walking out to the terrace with the view of the Sea of Marmara.
Main Attractions: Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque
Hagia Sofia (or Ayasofia) was founded as a Catholic church in the 6th century, and converted to a mosque when Istanbul was conquered in the 15th century. It is no longer a functioning mosque. It is fascinating to see the massive round Arabic canvasses, thirty feet in diameter, surround the main chamber, while ancient Biblical mosaics adorn the walls. Light …
PHOTO POST…the beauty of Istanbul…
PHOTO BLOG POST Sharing the beauty of Istanbul in these sweet moments before migrating west…soaking it all in as we begin to open and spread our wings to the winds again…we will be pointing our wings to the south of Spain later next week… Here are some reflections inspired by the beauty I feel…flowing through everyone and everything…all around the …
A Terrace and a Mosque With New Friends
From Ojai, evan puts us in touch with Kelly in Istanbul. She is American, in Turkey for the last six years, which began as a period of time with her aging grandmother. We meet her and family friend Paul at Konak Cafe in Galata, another terrace with another amazing view – this time south to the Golden Horn and west …
The Pierre Loti Terrace and Into The Grand Bazaar
We take the tram west of Sultanahmet to Çemberlitaş. Passing Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque on our left, we climb the hill and exit at the Column of Constantine, built on the orders of the Roman emperor in 330 AD. Crowds swarm around the entrance of the Grand Bazaar and the adjacent Atik Ali Pasha Mosque is in prayer, …
A Sampling of Istanbul
Following are a few photos from a couple days back. A view from our window, a minaret on Beyoglu, snapshots from the market, a contrast in toilets…