Thursday, April 21, 2011

Touring Turkey - A Letter to the Blue Mosque


Oh dearest, Blue Mosque.

You're majestic. Walking towards you and seeing you standing there made me realize why you're one of the most visited sites in all of Istanbul.


Inner courtyard

I looked up, and you showed me your exquisitely tiled ceilings. I understood why all of that blue tile made people call you the Blue Mosque (even though your real name is the Sultanahmet Mosque).

Ceiling detail

Your prayer area is so open, and let in light even with the cold, drizzly day outside.


Even your minbar is spectacular. I can see how early worshippers here would have been awestruck listening to the imam give sermons from there.


Even though I was only able to visit for a few minutes, I just want to let you know that I appreciated every aspect of you...even with all of the men who aggressively petitioned us to be our "tour guides" and faked being friendly so that they could whisk us away to their carpet shop. I know you can't help that. ;)

See you again someday?

Love,
Terri

3 comments:

Hannah {Culture Connoisseur} said...

Magnificent. I remember studying about this in my art history classes (I was an art history major for 3 years) and my jaw just dropping. Can't wait to see it in real life! Thanks for giving me a preview!

e.louise {Liz} said...

Those stained glass windows are breathtaking!

BigAppleNosh said...

Wow, looks simply amazing!

 

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