FROM ISTANBUL TURKEY

Friday, June 3rd

This was a FULL DAY! From 8:30 am - 10:00 PM we moved through historic Istanbul. So much of history was impacted by this area and the peoples who controlled it, fought to take it and who lived or now live here. Much of the world’s religious philosophy had it roots in this city as well as the surrounding country.

Today we visited Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Blue Mosque; the site of the Hippodrome adjacent to the Blue Mosque; Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Sultan, his court and Harem and also the center of the state administration. On the grounds of the Sultan’s residence is found the Byzantine Church of Hagia Eirene (Holy Peace) where the second major Church Council was held in the early part of the fourth century.

There are four major courtyards involved in this Palace and so it takes time to see it all and we tired but still missed some of it. But while there we had dinner overlooking the Marmara Sea and could view both continents from there – Europe on our left and Asia to the right. This was a major political site during the Ottoman Period.

We visited the Spice Market and saw unbelievable mounds and mounds of spices beautifully displayed along with some of the most delicious Turkish candies. NO! I only had a taste of ONE! My resistance level was high today, but pray for it to remain high the rest of the time here.

The evening found us on the Marmara Sea on a boat for one and one-half hours gazing at the sights along both the European side and the Asian side. The extreme amount of wealth in the homes along the Bosporus Straits is staggering.

And my night concluded with a very tasty meal at a Turkish restaurant with a sampling of their appetizers and their first course concluding with a sampling of all their meats but topped off with a great Turkish desert of your choice.

Saturday begins early, 8:00 AM with more sites to see here in Istanbul then a 3:00 flight to Izmir – old Smyrna of the Book of Revelation where we will attend Church of Sunday and tour the old city on Monday.

God bless – thanks for your support,

Dr D