:: First full day in Istanbul – Mind. Blown. :: Today. Up until early this afternoon, I was certain that I had mastered the art of being jet lagged, which includes staying up all night, feeling restless and climbing up onto the roof at 4:45am (since your body is messed up and you aren’t tired at all) to snap the first few photos of the city while everyone else sleeps, then feeling so moved after hearing the sunrise call to prayer, only to now feel exhausted because at home, it’s actually now your bedtime. After grabbing an early breakfast, I caught a quick nap, pulled myself together, and then set out to explore. I had a game plan, and a map, but when I travel, I don’t like having any kind of plan (I know, I know, completely opposite from my usual, calculated, calendar-abiding, must-have-a-plan, personality) it doesn’t take much for me to get talked into something else completely, and for today I’m thankful for that flexibility (at least when traveling) that I allow myself to have. I left my hotel reading a map, until I ran into a market, (distracted already!) where I just watched people and felt so happy. I was already certain that Istanbul was going to be a very moving experience. When I finally realized, in that moment, I wasn’t particularly interested in purchasing produce and was just a weirdo staring at everyone.. I moved on. With a left turn, a walk up the hill and a turn to the right, a man approached me. While I was startled at first, it was just before the guy with the guidebooks and maps, turned to me… and well, then I felt rescued. The Turkish man that originally approached me, Omar, smiled and asked where I was going. I love traveling alone so much, but I’m always safe, and very careful. I was right next to the Blue Mosque and told him, that’s where I was heading. He said, “I can show you around, then you should have coffee with me afterwards.” I’m certain I was blushing and still cautious, but he knew this city better than I did, so feeling distracted again (all the shiny things!) I was so on board. First up *was* the Blue Mosque. Breathtaking! He explained to me how they pray, where they stand, which way you face while praying, that all the lights strung actually used to be oil lamps, the fact that the inside is made up of more than twenty thousand individual tiles and even fixed my scarf for me! After lots of questions answered and numerous photos taken, we headed to the Basilica Cistern. There was so much rain and while we were trying our hardest to squeeze under one umbrella, this was underground, and seemed like the perfect place to head next, given the weather. The Basilica Cistern was so mesmerizing. All the columns, standing in a row, immersed in water where fish swam below, with lights reflecting upward from underneath. As we approached Medusa, Omar warned me not to look her in the eye. Ha! While my jaw was on the floor for most of the time we walked around, I was thankful to have someone so knowledgeable along with me who graciously offered to snap my picture every time we turned a corner. We then ran to a café for Turkish coffee, with the hope that we could get warm and dry out from all the rain. Omar and I swapped stories, shared where we’re from, and had lots of laughs as he taught me a few words in Turkish, and I helped him with his English. Afterwards, we stopped off at the Turkish rug and carpet gallery run by his family for four generations now. I had no idea until now, how beautiful these Turkish carpets could be. Believe me when I say I was in awe with Istanbul when Omar explained to me that everything in the store is handmade, and that a silk Turkish carpet 1 meter long, would take 2 years to complete. They are usually woven by women because they typically have smaller fingers. These women also only work 5-6 per day on these carpets, because any more than that would damage their eyesight, since it’s so tiny, intricate and involved. He even took me on the rooftop for an amazing view after we visited a room on the third floor of the gallery where several artists were hard at work repairing older, worn carpets. I had no idea my visit to the rug gallery would also involve a lengthy sit-down conversation with his uncle, David, over apple tea. A wonderful man, who at first glance, told us that we looked like we have known one another for a long time, then lectured Omar on the parts of Istanbul he should take me, and that he shouldn’t leave me alone for a minute. As I’m observing the family dynamic, there is the utmost respect for one another. This family was so warm and generous towards me with their time, and the conversation we shared. I felt very at home. Omar and I spent the rest of the evening having an authentic Turkish dinner, and went to this community water pipe (as it’s called in Turkey)/hooka lounge(?) I’m not sure how else to describe it. It’s located a covered area but yet still outside. It’s crowded, as if this is what everyone does after they get off work. Although, tonight it was extra busy for the football (soccer) game that was being shown on the televisions. The walls are lined with benches, and there were chairs all throughout the center of the room (actually many rooms. This place was huge!) paired with little uniquely tiled tables. Everyone sips on freshly squeezed orange juice, while smoking the water pipe. It was a blast! It was also during this time, Omar taught me a few more Turkish words and I continued to help him brush up on his English. What a fun first day in Istanbul, although there’s one last thing that I failed to mention before… As we left the rug gallery for dinner, we walked out and quickly got caught up in another conversation, this time with a different uncle, who also lectured Omar on being wonderful toward me. I’m just wondering how I walked into all of this! The only thing I know, is that I’m definitely taking the time enjoy the fact that these generous people just randomly entered my life. During our conversation, I asked his uncle for his name and he told me John Travolta. (no, you read that right.) I thought, hold up.. whoa, is this real life? He wasn’t kidding. Everyone calls him John Travolta, and without missing a beat, he whips out a picture on his phone from when he was twenty years old.. yep, he’s totally John Travolta. This. Is. Wild. Before we even able to take off for our walk to dinner, the uncles and Omar invite me to breakfast, where all of the family sits down together at the rug gallery in the morning. They have a spread made up of all the freshest foods from in town. Also, it just so happens that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I’m away from my family for the first time in 28 years, during this holiday. While that’s certainly not a holiday celebrated here, it’s amazing to know that I’ll be sitting down on that same day with another family for a meal, halfway around the globe. Today has not only made me value my travels and journey so much more, but it’s most definitely shown me that there are incredible people in this world, who want to share in it with you. They also want to hear your stories in return. Today, for this, I am grateful. :: Adventures in Istanbul… to be continued. Stay Tuned! ::
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 02:37:13 +0000
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