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Here are some Turkey facts as well as my amazing experiences of Turkish culture and sacred sites

Some Turkey facts, but lets start like this...

It was time to go on a sacred, spiritual journey again - this time to the mysterious and exotic land of Turkey!!

This time I travelled by myself and spent 8 days in Turkey. I joined my mom and dad (both retired) for 3 days, while they were conducting some business. For the first 2 nights we were sleeping in a 4 star hotel in the new section of Istanbul, and then , when their seminar was finished, moved out to the 3 star Antea hotel, which is a 3 minute walk from the ancient Grand Bazaar (Istanbul’s great Kapali)

Turkey facts: Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, was an important capital city for many hundreds of years. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

On my first day of exploring, we decided on the magnificent old Market, a mini-city that includes more than 4 000 shops and tiny cafes, all entered through any of 11 gates.

turkey market, turkey, sacred travel

It was awesome!! Hundreds and hundreds of little shops packed side-to–side from top to bottom, with anything you can think of; carpets, jewellery, leather, ceramics and copper ware; fabric, gold, bracelets... I could spend the whole day here!!
Music was playing everywhere, dark featured Turkish men were all promoting their goods and calling you to please come inside and have a look at all their bargains. There was too much to look at. We stopped for a cappuccino and a pastry at one of the small cafés and left after spending a good part of the day inside this old meeting place in Istanbul!!

Turkey facts: Mount Agri is the highest peak (5,166 m) in Turkey. Mount Agri, also known as Mount Ararat, is said to be the place where Noah's Ark came to rest.

Early next morning, after a small breakfast in the hotel, where the waiter could only speak some broken English, I was ready to go to the next ancient place - what better than the magnificent Hagia Sophia

After about 3 hours on this tour, we were transported in our small bus to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.

Turkey facts: The Ottoman Empire expanded in the early sixteenth century under Sultan Selim I (1512-1520) but the greatest expansion of the Empire took place during the rule of Sultan Suleyman (1520-1566).

It was a great choice to put these two ancient visiting places together for one morning - for they are close together, and much better to do with a tour guide (I avoid organized tours and guides as much as possible)

turkish courtyard, turkey, sacred destinations

The next day, before my mom and dad left, we went to the Grand Bazaar one more time. I did not want to buy any carpets on this trip, but let me tell you what happened …. We ended at this carpet shop and had this amazing experience that I remember to this day!! (this is why I love travelling to faraway, unknown places!!)

turkey street, turkey, sacred travel

We were lured into this little carpet shop that, from the outside, looked very ordinary, but inside, had hundreds and hundreds of carpets stacked on top of each other - all colours, every size you can think of and from every part of Turkey. My dad was very reluctant, he was adamant that he did not want to go inside this shop!! Needless to say, we were parke4d on a little couch, downstairs in the basement of this shop – promptly offered some green tea (served in a beautiful little stained glass on a saucer) and the show began!!! Carpet after carpet after carpet came down to the bottom - opened proudly by the owner, at our feet. Two young men were standing on the stairs, passing down any colour that we requested and telling us about the history of each beautiful carpet. We did not want to buy, you must remember this! We did not even want to go inside. Anyway, we spent more than an hour there – my dad, eventually, gave up (like men do when they know there’s nothing to be done about it). At last -- my mom bought a small, pinkish Kelim that she carried home. I think she had to buy it out of courtesy.

Stepping out of that shop into the hot sunlight of Istanbul, I realized that I had been removed into another world, another culture, a Turkish culture of pride for their unique and beautifully handwoven carpets!!!

The three of us had a wonderful meal together and had an early night as they were leaving home for South Africa the next day. I booked an exciting new travel destination for the next day - a 2 day tour of Cappadocia where I would collect more Turkey facts and experiences!!

Turkey facts: The Ottoman Empire ended in 1922 and the Republic of Turkey was founded. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the President of the Republic.

On the last morning, after a sumptuous breakfast, a few of us were transported back to Ankara airport. I arrived back in Istanbul after lunch and quickly went back to my hotel to fetch the luggage that I left overnight. Taking a taxi, I arrived at the beautiful Hotel Ceylan Intercontinental where I spent the last night. The rest of the afternoon I was walking around in the new, trendy part of Istanbul where all the beautiful designer shops and restaurants are situated. That night I was watching a magnificent sun set from the 14th floor of my hotel. The sun was setting on the city of Istanbul, exactly like it was setting over the city of Constantinople hundreds of years ago!!

I was content -- I will come back here … and maybe bring a friend ……..

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