Topkapi Palace

Had a slow start this morning, everyone slept in.  After breakfast, we wandered back to the park we visited last night to see it in the morning and not as busy.  Myles discovered that the community provides the boxed meals to celebrate the end of the daily fast and the people come together after prayers and to eat. We looked about and found a small store where collected more stuff.  Went back to the hotel to freshen up before being picked up for our tour.  The tour included a brief visit to the Rustem Pasha Mosque which is particularly famous for the very colorful tiles.  An interesting observation pointed out to us was the unfinished coloring of certain tiles which was done deliberately in deference to the imperfection of man it the sight of Allah.  

Then on to the Topkapi Palace.  Our guide was very entertaining, albeit our time with him was brief.  Have to make mention here about a couple of fellow tourists whom we had endured on our tour yesterday also.  These people were astounding.  Oblivoius is a complete understatement.  Today, just before we enter the Palace, they announce that they have to be back at their hotel for pick up in order to catch their departing flight.  Expected everyone else to compromise their tours. Unbelievable.  Thankfully, we had figured out yesterday that we could extend our tour by making our way back to the hotel via the tram.  We had our bearings a bit better and feeling comfortable telling our guide that we wouldn't return to the bus.  One last bitch.  Humans can behave rudely, and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Topkapi Palace was amazing.  We learned a lot about the Sultanate, Ottoman Empire, wealth and power.  The palace museum contained very interesting exhibits of the swords (David's), jewels (86 karat diamond) and relics (John the Baptist's arm).  History of the foundations of the various Monotheistic religions. Also some interesting facts about how the Sultan dispenced justice, constructed and maintained control of his empire (and successor Sultans) through selective breeding. We learned to make note of how many balconies on the Minarets, how many minarets, how tall the Minarets and who had the tallest towers.  

Grabbed a quick bite on our way to St. Irene church only to discover that we didn't have enough cash for the entry fee, so we weren't able to go inside the Church built by Constantine.  So we headed out of the palace area and wandered down to the waterfront.  We had a long walk around the outside of the palace walls along the shoreline.  Very interesting seeing a bunch of men laying on flat rocks like seals, sunning themselves.  Once more, Karen felt very self conscious being the only female in sight.  Men fishing, swiming, sunning.  It was a long walk around but eventually we stumbled upon our destination, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar.  

Wow.  Very busy with humanity overflowing every aisle.  Tried to bargain for some tea, to no avail.  Kept walking along through narrow and busy streets until everyone was yorgun, aç, ve susamish (which is turkish for stanche, fame et sete).  With patience low, and tempers short, we entered the first unobjectionable restaurant we found.  While the food was good, the location wasn't that desirable and of course, shortly afterwards, we noticed the ideal spot that had eluded us when we walked right past it earlier.  Anyway, in better spirits, we boarded the tram and headed back to the hotel.  Along the way, noticed huge throngs of people gathering in parks and squares to celebrate ending their Ramadan fast.