Day 3
We got up at 5am and went for a walk along the seawall, through Topkapi palace grounds, by the Ayasofia and Blue Mosque, and back to the hotel. . The morning hours are tranquil, with birdsong, a gentle breeze, and the bass rumble of diesel engines from the Golden Horn.
After a leisurely breakfast, we headed off to the Basilica Cisterns (Yerebatan Sarnici). These were built in the Byzantine era to store water which wouldn't be poisoned by enemy soldiers. The underground cavern is mysterious and eerie. The columns were recycled from previous structures, and each one tells a story. The capitals were Corinthian, Dorian, or plain. The pylons were marble, granite, smooth, or in one cases, decorated with teardrop-shaped carvings. The bases were elaborate or plain.
The next stop was Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi), built to be an Ottoman seat of power. It would take days to see the entire place. Next to it is the Archaeological Museum, which would take weeks to take in fully. My favorites were the Hittite lions, the Alexander sarcophagus, and the inscription tablets. (Now that I know Lisa might be using this blog as history and geography jumping off points for homeschooling, suddenly there's more of both!)
By early afternoon the heat and crowds have overtaken me, and it's back to the hotel for a shower and a nap.
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