Hosh Geldiniz! Istanbul, Turkey
Early 2000s (Pre-AK Party) Istanbul.
I had visited Istanbul three times already. The first was after I completed my contract work with ACCELS in Kyrgyzstan. I stopped over in Istanbul for an overnight in December 1999. It was a memorable trip since I forgot to close my window at night. I heard the loudest call to prayer in the morning.
I returned a second time in December 2001. During this trip I also visited Antalya and Alanya. Students from Fatih University took me around the mosques in Istanbul before I flew to Antalya. The students knew me from STV interview of me on Yeni Hayatlar.
For my third and last trip to Istanbul, I did volunteer work at the Turkish Foundation of Education Volunteer.
My friend had four of his female students take me around Istanbul. After we left campus, they took me to visit the Eyup Sultan Camii.
Eyup Sultan was one of the first Muslims to try to conquer Constantinople. He unfortunately failed and died outside the city. When the Ottomans finally conquered Constantinople, they later built a mosque for Eyup Sultan.
Eyup Sultan Camii is also famous for having the footprint of the Prophet Muhammed at the mosque.
Prophet Muhammad's Footprint.
Later that week, I visited the Fatih Camii several times with my friend. It is my favorite mosque in Istanbul. I would pray there many times during the 2nd and 3rd visits.
Outside of the Fatih Camii.
By the summer of 2002, I got to visit many more mosques. This is the Beyezit Camii. Many students would pray here since it was near a major university.
The Blue Mosque is also another favorite of mine.
In July 2002, I saw this view of the minaret from the Fatih Camii many times walking fro
Ayasofiya was not a mosque in 2002 but is now. I want to pray at the Ayasofiya in the future.
More to come
More pictures are coming after I locate them.
Map of the places
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Alanya, Turkey
- Antalya, Turkey
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Use the arrow keys to move the map. Use the plus and minus keys to zoom. The numbered markers are for mouse and touch. The same places, with the same numbers, are in the list above.