- Topkapi Palace- location of the head of the Ottoman Empire for over 300 years. Supposedly should take at least .5-1 day for this.
- Church of the St. Saviour in Chora (Chora Church)- a Byzantine Christian church with mosaics and frescoes that were amazingly preserved despite the Ottoman take-over
- Ferry across the Bosphorus - Don't take a cruise, they are more expensive and not any better than the commuter ferries
- Chill out under the Galata Bridge - watch the boats, go to tea houses and restaurants
- Hagia Sophia
- Walk the Theodosius Walls
- Dolmabahse Palace
- Hamam - find one the locals go to, they are cheaper and more authentic. Drink lots of water!
- See the Whirling Dervishes - This site looks interesting. Do some more research though.
- Visit Princes Island
- Archaeology Museum
- The Blue Mosque
- The Grand Bazaar
- The Egyptian Spice Bazaar
- Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent - 16th century
- Istiklal Street- pedestrian only street full of shopping and restaurants
- Underground Cistern
- Hagia Irene
- Galata Tower
Monday, October 29, 2012
Oh the Things I'll do!
There are 3 million things to do in Istanbul. I'm going to start a running list of the things that sound interesting to me. This way I can sift through them later and pick the ones that are MUST do and things that are MAYBE do.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Flights
To make my whole trip a bit cheaper but a also more complicated, I'm going to split the flight up a bit. I have air miles on Southwest so I'll get a round trip flight for free within the US. The plan is to utilize this to get to Chicago or NYC and then fly from there on an airline that can get me to Istanbul. I'm not sure how this will work as far as transferring my luggage- I think I should be able to check it all the way through (I hope), but I am going to have to look into that.
On the search for cheap flights, there are a couple of airlines that have direct flights to Istanbul: Delta, United Airlines, KLM, and Turkish Airlines. I did a quick search based on the approximate date I'm planning and it looks like United Airlines is the cheapest flying out of NYC.
So here is the plan:
Portland to NYC via Southwest air miles
NYC to Istanbul via United Airlines
then
Istanbul to NYC via United Airlines
NYC to Portland via Southwest air miles
Any other ideas out there? I'd rather not have too many stops...obviously!
Now, the really big issue. I can't sleep sitting up. It makes flying difficult and it's been a while since I've been on a flight that is this long. Any suggestions on how to sleep while flying? I found this gem in my own searches: "How to Sleep on a Plane."
Enjoy!
On the search for cheap flights, there are a couple of airlines that have direct flights to Istanbul: Delta, United Airlines, KLM, and Turkish Airlines. I did a quick search based on the approximate date I'm planning and it looks like United Airlines is the cheapest flying out of NYC.
So here is the plan:
Portland to NYC via Southwest air miles
NYC to Istanbul via United Airlines
then
Istanbul to NYC via United Airlines
NYC to Portland via Southwest air miles
Any other ideas out there? I'd rather not have too many stops...obviously!
Now, the really big issue. I can't sleep sitting up. It makes flying difficult and it's been a while since I've been on a flight that is this long. Any suggestions on how to sleep while flying? I found this gem in my own searches: "How to Sleep on a Plane."
Enjoy!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Istanbul Lodging
There are at least 34 Hostels in Istanbul. I've narrowed it down to 4 possibilities for myself.
In an attempt to narrow the selection down, I started by cutting them down based on location. I really want to stay in the Old Town area because that's where most of the history that I am interested in is. This eliminated 17 possibilities.
The next thing I did was narrow down based on how much information was available online. Did the hostel have a website? Was the website at all helpful or did it just refer me to hostel.com or some other booking site? What amenities are offered? I was surprised at how much this narrowed the selection down. I was then at 6 selection! I cut two out based on price (they were much more expensive than the other 4, but didn't necessarily look any better. So here's what I am left with:
Nobel Hostel - 4 bed dorm
Orient Hostel - 4 bed dorm
Cordial House Hostel - 8 bed dorm (females only) - Unsure of free breakfast?
Sultan Hostel - mixed dorm (didn't specify bed #)
I'm leaning towards the Nobel Hostel or The Orient Hostel.
Your thoughts?
In an attempt to narrow the selection down, I started by cutting them down based on location. I really want to stay in the Old Town area because that's where most of the history that I am interested in is. This eliminated 17 possibilities.
The next thing I did was narrow down based on how much information was available online. Did the hostel have a website? Was the website at all helpful or did it just refer me to hostel.com or some other booking site? What amenities are offered? I was surprised at how much this narrowed the selection down. I was then at 6 selection! I cut two out based on price (they were much more expensive than the other 4, but didn't necessarily look any better. So here's what I am left with:
Nobel Hostel - 4 bed dorm
Orient Hostel - 4 bed dorm
Cordial House Hostel - 8 bed dorm (females only) - Unsure of free breakfast?
Sultan Hostel - mixed dorm (didn't specify bed #)
I'm leaning towards the Nobel Hostel or The Orient Hostel.
Your thoughts?
Monday, October 8, 2012
Technology or no?
I just found out that Apple is going to be announcing a new iPad that is smaller than the original but bigger than a cell phone. This brings up a conundrum for me. Do I utilize technology on this trip or not?
This wasn't a big question when I lived in N. Ireland. Yes, cell phones were in existence, but they weren't "Smart" and basically if I wanted information, I had to go to an internet library or ask *gasp* a person!
The pros of an ipad are immense. I could easily update my family and friends of my trip. Historical information and maps would be at the tip of my fingertips. I could download walking tours, calculate currency, and find transportation easier.
The cons of the ipad, while not as numerous, are still important to consider. Using technology may mean that I lose the immense sense of adventure. Basically, the question is: how can I find myself if I don't first get lost?
What are your opinions?
This wasn't a big question when I lived in N. Ireland. Yes, cell phones were in existence, but they weren't "Smart" and basically if I wanted information, I had to go to an internet library or ask *gasp* a person!
The pros of an ipad are immense. I could easily update my family and friends of my trip. Historical information and maps would be at the tip of my fingertips. I could download walking tours, calculate currency, and find transportation easier.
The cons of the ipad, while not as numerous, are still important to consider. Using technology may mean that I lose the immense sense of adventure. Basically, the question is: how can I find myself if I don't first get lost?
What are your opinions?
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Spirituality
Tonight at yoga, the teacher came over to help me with a stretch that just wasn't happening. After she helped me at least get slightly comfortable in the pose, I wanted to cry because I felt really stuck, not flexible, unmoved. It made me want to go away to a beautiful island and spend a month learning yoga and focusing every day on deep stretching and finding peace with my body. It dawned on me that many people who go on yoga retreats go not just for the physical peace they find, but for the spiritual peace. I found myself suddenly wanting that. It made me wonder what I could do to make my trip to Turkey a more spiritually based journey.
As I will be going to a place ripe with the history of Islam, it seems fitting for me to learn more about the Muslim faith. I don't know that much about the Spiritual practice of Muslims. What are their prayers? I know they pray ritually 5 time a day, but what are they saying and thinking? What about spiritual meals or community gatherings? What is it like to attend a Mosque?
I think it would be best for me to explore some of these questions here in Portland, but I wonder if I shouldn't bring it with me to Istanbul? Should I wake up every morning at sunrise for the first prayer of the day? What other ways can I learn more about the spiritual practices of Muslim while I'm in Turkey? It's in writing this that I realize I know so very little about one of the great faiths of our world.
As I will be going to a place ripe with the history of Islam, it seems fitting for me to learn more about the Muslim faith. I don't know that much about the Spiritual practice of Muslims. What are their prayers? I know they pray ritually 5 time a day, but what are they saying and thinking? What about spiritual meals or community gatherings? What is it like to attend a Mosque?
I think it would be best for me to explore some of these questions here in Portland, but I wonder if I shouldn't bring it with me to Istanbul? Should I wake up every morning at sunrise for the first prayer of the day? What other ways can I learn more about the spiritual practices of Muslim while I'm in Turkey? It's in writing this that I realize I know so very little about one of the great faiths of our world.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
"Women and Islam" lecture
Tonight I had the privilege of attending a lecture at the Rosegarden Turkish American Cultural Center here in Portland. I signed up for their mailing list a while ago to follow any Turkish language classes and read about this lecture in one of the emails they sent out. It was given by Dr. Sophia Pandya from California State University, Long Beach, and I really enjoyed it.
First, I should tell you how nervous I was when I arrived. The building is pretty much unmarked, the only reason I knew I was in the right place was because I saw women with the hijab entering. I wondered if I was inappropriately dressed (tank top and capris) but decided to venture in and find out. When I came in the door, there were only men, so I tol done who approached me that I was there for the lecture and he walked me to a room where the women were waiting. So in I walk, only about 1/3 of the women wore hijab but I was definitely showing more skin than anybody else. I asked if I should cover up and they said absolutely not, from then on they did nothing but smile at me, introduce themselves, and inquire as to who I was. They were simply lovely. One young woman I met, named Selen, was especially helpful. She has been here in the US for about 2 years having come from Istanbul. Her husband got a job here so she's working on a Master's degree at PSU in Engineering. She graciously answered my questions, made sure I understood where to go and when (not that it was complicated, I just didn't want to offend anybody so was slightly more careful than normal).
The lecture itself was an excellent introduction for me. Even though I have a B.A. and a Master's degree in Religion, both degrees focused on Christianity. I know so little about the history of Islam as well as the culture. Dr. Pandya started by showing us clips of American movies and shows depicting Arabs. It was horrifying. American's have done such a great job of depicting Arabic Men as evil and dangerous and Arabic Women as timid and beaten. We have depicted Arab nations as being backwards and uneducated. It made me think about what a responsibility Hollywood has to be more cautious about its' depictions of other cultures. Hollywood has the power to do a lot of harm to people.
In discussing the patriarchy of Islam, Dr. Pandya started by reminding us that the Prophet Mohammed was actually quite progressive. He made it so that women could inherit property, he consulted women on matters of faith, and he in general made life a bit easier for women. The patriarchal part of Islam came later when the center of the Islamic Empire was moved from Damascus to Persia. There, Islam encountered Zoroastrianism, which as it turns out was very patriarchal. Unfortunately, Islam picked up may of its' ideas from Zoroastrianism that often hurt women. It was interesting to understand that history. I did some research on Zoroastrianism in Graduate school, but really only focused on early Zoroastrianism, nothing past Jesus. I do believe that Zoroastrianism played a huge part in the apocalyptic world of Judaism and Christianity, but I had never thought about some of the other roles it had played. I need to do more research on it I guess.
I really loved the stories of women here in American who are helping to change how Americans view Islam as well as the face of Islam as a whole. There is a movement called the Hizmet (which means service) also known as the Gulen Movement that is focused on inter-faith dialogue, education, and helping people who are in need. I gather that the Rosengarden Center here in Portland is part of the Hizmet movement. They put on meals during Ramadan for non-Muslims to introduce us to their practices and to share their beliefs in general.
I've emailed Dr. Pandya to see if I can get a copy of her presentation because there were some other points that I want to share (but silly me didn't bring a notebook to take notes). Overall, I'm so glad I went! I will definitely be going back to the Rosegarden for more activities!
First, I should tell you how nervous I was when I arrived. The building is pretty much unmarked, the only reason I knew I was in the right place was because I saw women with the hijab entering. I wondered if I was inappropriately dressed (tank top and capris) but decided to venture in and find out. When I came in the door, there were only men, so I tol done who approached me that I was there for the lecture and he walked me to a room where the women were waiting. So in I walk, only about 1/3 of the women wore hijab but I was definitely showing more skin than anybody else. I asked if I should cover up and they said absolutely not, from then on they did nothing but smile at me, introduce themselves, and inquire as to who I was. They were simply lovely. One young woman I met, named Selen, was especially helpful. She has been here in the US for about 2 years having come from Istanbul. Her husband got a job here so she's working on a Master's degree at PSU in Engineering. She graciously answered my questions, made sure I understood where to go and when (not that it was complicated, I just didn't want to offend anybody so was slightly more careful than normal).
The lecture itself was an excellent introduction for me. Even though I have a B.A. and a Master's degree in Religion, both degrees focused on Christianity. I know so little about the history of Islam as well as the culture. Dr. Pandya started by showing us clips of American movies and shows depicting Arabs. It was horrifying. American's have done such a great job of depicting Arabic Men as evil and dangerous and Arabic Women as timid and beaten. We have depicted Arab nations as being backwards and uneducated. It made me think about what a responsibility Hollywood has to be more cautious about its' depictions of other cultures. Hollywood has the power to do a lot of harm to people.
In discussing the patriarchy of Islam, Dr. Pandya started by reminding us that the Prophet Mohammed was actually quite progressive. He made it so that women could inherit property, he consulted women on matters of faith, and he in general made life a bit easier for women. The patriarchal part of Islam came later when the center of the Islamic Empire was moved from Damascus to Persia. There, Islam encountered Zoroastrianism, which as it turns out was very patriarchal. Unfortunately, Islam picked up may of its' ideas from Zoroastrianism that often hurt women. It was interesting to understand that history. I did some research on Zoroastrianism in Graduate school, but really only focused on early Zoroastrianism, nothing past Jesus. I do believe that Zoroastrianism played a huge part in the apocalyptic world of Judaism and Christianity, but I had never thought about some of the other roles it had played. I need to do more research on it I guess.
I really loved the stories of women here in American who are helping to change how Americans view Islam as well as the face of Islam as a whole. There is a movement called the Hizmet (which means service) also known as the Gulen Movement that is focused on inter-faith dialogue, education, and helping people who are in need. I gather that the Rosengarden Center here in Portland is part of the Hizmet movement. They put on meals during Ramadan for non-Muslims to introduce us to their practices and to share their beliefs in general.
I've emailed Dr. Pandya to see if I can get a copy of her presentation because there were some other points that I want to share (but silly me didn't bring a notebook to take notes). Overall, I'm so glad I went! I will definitely be going back to the Rosegarden for more activities!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Tango in Istanbul SHOES!
The other night it dawned on me that I hadn't looked at the night life in Istanbul. I'm not much of a night person or a partier, but I know the most fun I've had out partying has been while travelling. I decided to start my searching for Istanbul evening activities with tango (logical for me). It didn't take me long to find this site. The most exciting bit being the custom made tango shoes!
I had heard about this guy through some friends, but I can't believe how little they cost compared to shoes here in the US that aren't even custom made. I will need to save so I can buy a couple of pairs, to make it worth it, you know. :-)
So much for nightlife. I'm going to be too busy buying shoes!
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