In about a month, almost 40 Herons Glen Travel Clubbers will be on our 10-night, nine-day Mediterranean cruise, beginning in Barcelona, Spain, and then going on to Mykonos, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; Santorini, Greece; Olympia, Greece; and then departing the cruise in Rome, Italy. One of the most interesting ports that we will be visiting will be two days in Istanbul, Turkey on October 23 to 24.
So, what is there about Istanbul that makes it important enough to spend two days there? Istanbul has a particularly important history over the past 3,000 years (since the Neolithic era), since it is located on the Bosphorus Strait, connecting Europe and Asia. This made it an important trading, naval and cultural center through millennia. Originally it was known as Byzantium, Constantinople, and now Istanbul.
What is there to see in Istanbul? The Grand Bazaar is an amazing array of alleys in a historic market and is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. It was established in 1461 (not a misprint). Take your pick of colorful oil lamps, leather goods, handmade hammam (Turkish spa) towels, carpets, an awesome array of spices, jewelry, clothing, bags, handicrafts. You name it, you can probably buy it here in the 5,000 shops. Be sure to save room in your suitcase for your purchases! Better yet, buy a suitcase here and fill it with your newly purchased treasures!
The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and is known for its blue interior tiles and six minarets. It’s a significant example of Ottoman architecture.
The Basilica Cistern is an engineering marvel. It was built in the 6th century to be a massive water storage facility for the Great Palace and surrounding area. It holds about 21 million gallons of water for the city. It has 336 marble columns to hold up the roof, some with Medusa head carvings and is a popular tourist attraction.
We’ve all heard about “Turkish Spas.” So, what is this experience all about? In the experience, you go through a series of steps guaranteed to totally relax you: warming up in a steam sauna; a rough exfoliation by an attendant; a foam massage; a deep tissue massage; and a cold plunge. Then you are provided with a towel and a drink to rehydrate. Sounds wonderful!
What is there to eat? Istanbul offers a very diverse array of food types. Some examples are: doner kebab (rotating grilled meat, usually lamb, beef or chicken); of course, baklava (a sweet dessert made of layers of flaky phyllo dough, pistachios, walnuts or almonds, and soaked in sweet syrup or honey). Sounds decadent! Meze is a selection of small appetizer dishes, such as stuffed grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanoush, and salads. I think I will forgo eating meals on the cruise ship and have many delightful culinary experiences in the city!
There are about 40 Herons Glen Travel Clubbers that can’t wait to experience Istanbul, in addition to our other wonderful stops on the cruise!
