Byzantine Mosaics St Sophia Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghThis and other byzantine mosaics may be found up in the galleries of St Sophias which is now a mosque
Ceiling St Sophia Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghIf you look carefully you can see Christian emblems tucked away in corner of the mosque which is being restored to show its joint heritage
One Building: Two Faiths St Sophia Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghHere you can see how the contoversial restoration work has revealed traces of the Byzantine christian heritage of the building (here juxtapositioned with a quote from the Koran)
Remodelled Doors St Sophia Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghThe restoration work does not go as far as replacing the cross piece on the christian emblems on the door. The outline is still quite visible even after all this time
A Dervish Whirling Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghCafe Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghThese guys played backgammon over coffe:notice the hooka's on the counter. FYI we had the worst food of our trip here under the Galata Bridge
Grey Winged Gull
photo by D.MiddleburghWe haven't got gulls in Hong Kong and I got really excited when this one dropped in for breakfast at the hotel. We used to have them at home in Wanstead when I was growing up
Calligraphy Topaki Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghCaligraphy Topkapi Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghI just love the caligraphy:In China it is not uncommon to similarly see examples of caligraphy (poems/proverbs rather than religious texts) hanging from walls or over doors
Tools of Trade, Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghThere are lots of itinerant shoe cleaners in Istanbul. The equipment is on sale in the "real" markets. I hurriedly snapped this (hence the poor photo quality) because it looked old and the tiles on the side were "salacious" showing belly dancers (?) or the harem (?)
Fishing off Galata Bridge Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghYou can sit in the cafes underneath the bridge whilst the fishermen do their thing from the upper deck. Unlike Hong Kong however there were no women fishing
Turkish Jockey Club
photo by D.MiddleburghThe Hong Kong Jockey Club is a venerable institution. Evidently it has a cousin in Turkey
Sultan's Seal
photo by D.MiddleburghJust like a chinese chop - except bigger and on the doors in Topkapi Palace
Harem Topkapi Istanbul
photo by D.MiddleburghProof statement that I have been visited a harem
posted by David Middleburgh on Sunday, September 03, 2006
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