Most of us love to travel. If a naturally beautiful place is blended with historic importance then it
makes it even more exciting. Istanbul and the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea are such destinations.
Istanbul historically known as Constantinople is the largest city in Turkey. This beautiful city is
located on the Bosphorous strait which connects the Marmara to the Black sea forming a natural
harbor known as the Golden Horn. The unique thing about Istanbul is that it is the only city in the
world that extends on two continents, the European side comprising the historic and economic
centers and the Asian side. The best time to visit is summer when the average temperature is
around 26-30 degrees.
Istanbul is known for its Ottoman architecture but the Greek and Roman influence can also be felt to
a great extent. I would say it is a land of mosques as they dominate the city’s skyline. The best place
to observe this is from the Galata tower from where you can get a complete view of the city and
its Asian and European culture.
Byzantine Hippodrome which was shipped from Egypt is a remnant of Roman times. But what
caught my eye was the magnificent Blue mosque which has six minarets. Our guide told us that
Sultan Ahmed by whose name the mosque is known equated the number of minarets to the
prophet Mohamed’s shrine at Medina which was the only mosque to have six minarets at that time.
To avoid the outrage of the people he had to add one extra minaret to the Medina shrine to
maintain the supremacy of the prophet over all the kings and fellowmen. It has a middle dome of
109 feet. The name blue comes from the beautifully painted walls and blue floral tiles and mosaics
on the inside of the mosque. What caught my attention was their lighting system. They had huge
circular iron structures hanging from the ceiling which could hold candles and lamps, which still exist
but have been replaced by electric bulbs giving a feel of the olden times.
Another attraction is St Sofia or the Hagia Sophia, the iconic structure of Byzantine
architecture. It is a wonder in its own right. It has a combination of Muslim and Catholic influence. As
the rule changed, the Christian mosaics were covered and Islamic elements were added to convert
the cathedral into a mosque. Today after an extensive restoration, I guess it’s the only place in the
world where one can see Allah and Jesus-Mary under one roof. Incredible isn’t it. To my
disappointment, the other tourist attractions like the Sulemaniya mosque and the Topkapi palace
were closed and thus we could not visit those.
My disappointment was converted to a cheer by the visit to the grand bazaar. Like all women, I love
shopping and thus had a gala time purchasing porcelain souvenirs. One could choose from a wide
range of colorful porcelain dishes, plates, cups, Sufi dancers, Turkish mojari’s, and hats. One could
also indulge in buying carpets, traditional hukkas, traditional silver, and brass utensils and even
glittery belly dancers’ dresses. Some other items available are traditional soap cakes, and typical
Turkish good luck charms, bracelets, and key chains. The other market that we visited was the
Egyptian market also known as the spice market. Heaps of various spices and condiments occupied
most of the market space. Being an Indian who is not new to these things, I didn’t have much
interest and thus decided to do something more interesting. After a tiring day a Turkish bath or the
“Hamam” is the best way to relax your tired muscles. Jacuzzi and sauna are other facilities provided
in most of the Turkish hotels making it a great experience.
Besides places of historic importance, Istanbul has more to offer. The Bosphorous cruise is a great
experience giving you a glimpse of both worlds, the European and Asian. Along the shores, one can
enjoy the splendor of ancient wooden villas, marble palaces, forts, and small fishing villages. The
cool breeze, scenic green environment, and blue sky are just perfect to relax your senses.
To get a local flavor of the city the best way is to take a walk. To make sure that we do not loose
directions, we just followed the tram route from Taksim square to the Galata tower. On the way,
we came across the local people and I was pleased to see that Istanbul is a very modern city. Though
70% of the population is Muslim, there was no distinction between the Christians and Muslims.
People spend their evening sipping tea and playing the traditional game Talvi which is a combination of carom and ludo.
You will also come across local roadside shops serving naans, kababs, and boiled corn. Being a
vegetarian, I just hogged on them. When in Turkey one must without fail to try the Turkish black tea
which is served in special glass cups and Simit which is round bread decorated with sesame seeds. I
would also like to make a special mention of the Turkish delight called Lokum which is a good
substitute for chocolates if you want to carry some sweets back home. This is the best option and I
definitely would recommend trying it.
After Istanbul, we took a flight to Athens (Greece). Athens has a glorious history and I was always
fascinated by the Greek civilization, its wise men, and the Gods they worshiped. The modern city
looked like a concrete jungle (though not as impressive as the US or Hongkong) with narrow lanes
but yes the ancient city has its own charm. A visit to the Acropolis- the most famous archaeological
monument in Greece, the temple of Zeus, and the first Olympic stadium gave us an idea of the
magnificent Greek Empire. When you think of a temple, a well-built grand structure with beautiful
carvings, decorated walls, and ceilings come to your mind but what you see are the ruins in the form
of broken pillars and walls, giving your imagination a boost. Syntagma square is the most happening
square in Athens where most of the government buildings, Parliament, Athens Academy, and
museums are located. The metro subways are the best means to commute in the city. But what
fascinated me were the electric buses, being slow they give you ample time to take photographs and
capture the magnificent Greek architecture.
We drove past the port of Piraeus which was beautifully lit in the evening, adding a lot of glamour to
the scenic beauty of the harbor. What we enjoyed most in Athens was the old city of Plaka where
we got a chance to visit the typical Greek taverna (restaurant) and enjoy some Greek folk dance and
bouzouki music. I did try a jig and match my steps with them and also shouted my heart out “oh pa –
oh, pa” along with the dancers, though I didn’t know the meaning. The ambiance was just
electrifying.
From the port of Piraeus, we boarded our cruise Aquamarine to the island of Mykonos. The sun-drenched bare hills rising from the blue sea dotted with dazzling white chapels, windmills, and white
cubic houses make Chora the island’s capital a great tourist destination. The shore leads to an area
known as “Little Venice” because Venetian houses are built right up to the water edge. Sipping warm
coffee or a drink by the seaside while enjoying the sight of the sun rays painting the sky in shades of
red and yellow, highlighting the windmills is a picture-perfect moment. If you are an art lover then
do not forget to collect some great oil paintings, hand-painted artistic shirts, and other Greek
souvenirs. Another thing that surprised me was the signboard for a beach called Marathi….. hmmm
seeing the nameplate “Mazatlan Marathi manus Jaga Zala”. It set a smile on my face.
At the Turkish port of Kusadasi, one can visit the magnificent ruins of the great Temple of Artemis at
Ephesus was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary
where she is said to have lived and died is an enchanting moment. If you have not shopped enough
in Istanbul then here is your chance to buy some Turkish carpets, leatherwear, and jewelry. Like all
Asian countries…. don’t forget to bargain here.
Cruising is a wonderful experience in itself. We would visit one island in the morning after breakfast,
spend the afternoon in the comfort of our cabin, and again in the evening we would visit another
island. If that’s not enough there was much more to do. Each night there would be an extravaganza of
special dance performances. Right from traditional Greek dances to Brazilian Samba dance. One
could simply enjoy these performances or tap one’s feet to the music or enjoy some karaoke. Besides
this one could enjoy numerous activities like fun games, basketball, cards, try one’s luck at the
casino, take up Greek language and dance lessons, learn photography or some magic. There is plenty
to do and see for everyone.
Ok, now back to cruising. We also visited the island of Patmos and the island of Crete. Crete is the
biggest Greek island but to my disappointment there was not much to see or do, besides the
Venetian harbor, the fountain square with four lions which is 300 years old and some ruins of
Minoan civilization.
Talking about the next island takes me back into the memory lane. Ever since I had seen the song
”Tauba tumhare yeh ishare…..” from the film Chalte Chalte, I wished to visit the place and my dream
came true when we reached the island of Santorini in the Aegean sea. I couldn’t control my
emotions and just shouted out oh….” he tar tich Jaga aahe”. The cruise usually docks and
disembarks a little far off in the sea and the tender boats take you ashore to the port of Skala. From
there one can reach a place called Fira/Thira either by cable car, donkey ride, or a 45 min walk uphill.
The option is yours. Taking a cable car is the best and fastest option if you can avoid the rush and can
board one asap. The long waiting queues can add to your frustration at times and the other options
could be tiring.
From the cable car, the dazzling small white houses looked like a line of whiteness above the barren
volcanic cliffs. We had not booked any local excursion tour as it was very expensive and thus had to
find our own way to the most attractive village in the world Oia (Eea). We took up the challenge,
visited the nearby tourist information center, took a road map, and rushed to the bus station. We
were lucky to find one immediately and within minutes we reached the other side of the
mountain which had a mesmerizing and unique view. The whole mountain top was occupied by
small houses, churches, and restaurants which were linked together by narrow lanes and steps going
up and down covering the entire ground. The building and tree trunks are painted white every year
which stand out against the rusty rocky mountains. The blue domes of the churches add to its
beauty. I wished I could sit by the poolside in one of the hotels uphill facing the sea and capture the
picturesque view in my eyes as the sunset. Wishing to stay there forever and looking forward to yet
another such romantic destination.
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