City Walking in Istanbul - Visiting Bazaar and Suleymaniye Mosque The Monk Takahiro Ueda's Circumnavigation of the World - Turkey Part 1 (1)
Now, after a seven-hour flight from Kilimanjaro Airport, we finally arrived at the airport in Istanbul. Finally, we arrived at the airport in Istanbul.
This is indeed one of the largest airports in the world. The lines at the immigration checkpoint are long.
I must have waited in line for about an hour.
Not having much experience abroad, I don't know if this one hour was long or reasonable, but at any rate, I entered the country without incident.
The hotel where I am staying is in the old city of Istanbul.
It takes about one hour from the airport to the old town by metro and streetcar.
The Old City is home to Istanbul's most famous mosque, the Blue Mosque, and the Hagia Sophia.
It is a great place to sightsee. In fact, many tourists use this area as their base.
Once we arrived at the hotel, we immediately started walking around town.
After all, this is already Europe.
European-style buildings line the street.
I was afraid that Europe was not safe, that there would be pickpockets and robbers. However, I didn't feel such a scary atmosphere when I walked around.
It was very peaceful.
Tourists are everywhere. It is no different from Kyoto.
But don't let your guard down. Basically, remember to protect yourself. This is different from Japan.
Now, first we head toward the bazaar.
Continue down the modern street.
Ahead is Istanbul's largest bazaar.
Arriving at the entrance. The bazaar is like an arcade. Even if it rains, it is no problem at all.
As you can see, stores are lined up on both sides of the road in various places.
Spices, souvenirs, money, food, cloths, and anyway, all kinds of things are sold. There were also old-fashioned toys for sale.
There are 4,000 stores in this bazaar.
Inside, the place is crowded with tourists. The merchants are trying to attract these tourists with all their tricks. Anyway, the place is bustling with activity.
I think as I walk here.
It still looks just like Kyoto.
The arcades of Teramachi Dori and Shinkyogoku also have this kind of atmosphere. Nishiki Market is now crowded with tourists, so it must be similar.
The only difference is what they sell and who is here. (If that's a significant difference, then that's exactly what I'm talking about.)
Now, another 15 minutes' walk past this bazaar, and a huge mosque appears before you.
That is the Suleymaniye Mosque.
This mosque was built in 1557 by Suleiman I, the 10th Sultan (meaning "emperor") of the Ottoman Empire.
It was built during the heyday of the Ottoman Empire, so it is one of the largest and most luxurious.
The square of the mosque is also powerful.
And when I went inside, there was a huge space.
The ceiling is domed. The pattern on the ceiling is also beautiful.
And the lamp-shaped lights hanging from the ceiling enhance the sacredness inside the dome.
Muslims gather at this red carpet for prayers.
We tourists are not allowed to enter there.
And what a gracious hospitality this mosque offers.
Set the headphones on and you'll be amazed.
You can hear the recitation of the Koran.
The recitation of the Koran is not merely reading the Koran out loud.
He reads as if he were singing a song.
When I heard the recitation, I was drawn into a sacred feeling, even if I did not understand its content or meaning. This was a strange experience.
Suleymaniye Mosque is a very chic place to enjoy the atmosphere of a mosque while listening to the recitation of the Koran.
Try it when you come to Istanbul.
be unbroken
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