I hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year. Here in Istanbul, it was very quiet, probably due to the pandemic situation. On January 1, most establishments, with the exception of dining areas were closed until 2;00 P.M. To date, not many rules in place here, but we do our best to distance from others and wear a mask when outside, and in malls, etc. All must show the QR code when entering malls.
On December 29, we took metro trains to the main downtown area to explore the building known as The Grand Mosque. It is also known as Hagia Sophia, which was built as an Orthodox church back in 360 A.D. It is made of stone and cement, but for the first two hundred years, the dome was made of wood. Two fires over that time destroyed the roof, and made it unuseable for years at a time. In the year 537, the first Byzantine Empire leader, Constantine, had the roof replaced and the building was completed to what we see today. It is said that several thousand could be inside at one time. Shoes are removed at the entrance, and the floor is covered in what seems to be a seamless carpet of a pleasing green color. There are no seats. In the stone ceiling are pictures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. This building just became a mosque a few years ago by an agreement between Muslim and Christian groups. We are told that it, and the nearby "Blue Mosque", (which also was owned by other faiths,) are the only two mosques in the world with pictures inside.
On December 30, we went to the Isfanbul Mall, (that is the correct spelling) and explored the area. This mall is a series of round buildings interconnected with open walkways, and is located next to what is locally called Disneyland Istanbul. Since it was a rainy day, we went there while Hussian was in school so there would be no pressure to go inside the park. There is a huge Roller Coaster, Zip Line and a Castle similar to the other Disney sites. I was unable to find out if it was a read or imitation look alike. We did explore an upside-down house, which is a structure built like a house with the roof at the bottom. All fixtures in each room are mounted on the ceiling....including the bath fixtures. Quite a novelty.
I will be departing here one week from tomorrow for my return to Canada. On Tuesday, a nurse will come to my hotel and do a PCR test, and I will await in the hotel until I get the results six or eight hours later....the cost is under 20 dollars Canadian!.
We have a quiet week ahead, with my friend expecting family from London. I expect my next update to be from my home in a white, cold Ottawa . This week we have 14 degrees and sun here.
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