On my second day in Istanbul I was woken by the call to prayer some time around five in the morning. The first time I had heard it so clearly. No other sounds at all. It was very beautiful – long and modulated, soft then loud. All the mosques have different singers and I think this one, from one we pass every day on our way to the tram stop, is the best!
Followed by a leisurely start to the day. Meeting the children on the rooftop for breakfast, discovering we had been close by each other last night – except they had been inside a restaurant with the whirling dervish a little further down. Eating and drinking and smoking the nargileh! They had then been taken to a place for sweets somewhere in Sultanahmet. Their host was the Turkish father of one of Eleanor’s friends, Fez. He’s back in Turkey for the first time in 25 years, showing his three children (and their friends) the sights.
Then we went to Asia. We took the tram to Emimonu and caught the ferry to Kadikoy. All for the cost of a token – a single token costing 3 Turkish Lira ($1.80) takes you anywhere on the system, regardless of distance. A public transport system that is clean, efficient and easy to use! With no need for flying squads of enforcers. Who (from Melbourne) would have thought it possible.
It was another clear, hot and sunny day. A lovely day to be on the water with lots of locals going over to Kadikoy for the Sunday market. More good service from the transport authority – hundreds of people loaded on and off the ferry quickly and without mishap (despite only a couple of rickety ramps and most people just stepping across the small gap).
Once ashore we are in Asia. Istanbul is the only city spread across two continents. We had been told to expect a different feel with more overt religion, people stopping at the call to prayer, in full covered dress etc. but this wasn’t our experience. It all looked much the same. We followed the crowd up the narrow streets to a wonderful fresh food market. Dozens of fish stalls with the fishmongers calling out their wares. Fruit and vegetables. Shades of Vic Market, but this is all in the open air in a rabbit warren of tiny streets. Here are some of the pictures.
See the turned out gills on the fish. They do this to show how fresh they are. We bought some of the black figs – delicious.
After the market we had lunch and coffee at two different places, then came back to the ferry for the trip back. An enormous Turkish flag dominated the square beside the ferry station. Just off the shore you go past this enormous building which is a train station that was a gift from the Germans to Istanbul – strange! Very impressive building right on the water. You also go past the Istanbul port – somewhat different to the Port of Melbourne. The children were taken with the many gulls that followed us, encouraged by passengers feeding them.
At one stage another ferry came roaring past and for a moment it looked as though we were in a race. They won! The view coming back to the European side was good. The Galata Tower dominating the skyline.
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