Istanbul ’17 | Day 6: The Sky vs. the City
Istanbul ’17 | Day 6: The Sky vs. The City
27th July ’17. Day 6 of 9.
Today started beautifully, with the temperature soaring as we headed to Eminonu to pick up gifts from Spice Bazar. We only have a few days left in Istanbul, and tomorrow is already fully booked with plans.
After our shopping trip, we made a brief return to Sultanahmet. We couldn’t resist taking a moment for these adorable dogs sleeping on the freshly watered grass! It was so hot, I can only imagine the relief they felt in the shade. The stray dogs here are so well looked after, and so they are generally very calm. Nicely done, Istanbul.
After a quick bite, we headed to Ismail Aga once again. The atmosphere here is quite spiritual, with many stores selling religious hats with the Blessed Sandal symbol embroidered into the fabric, perfume (‘itr) and a vast array of books – mostly in Turkish but still, what a delight!
We also had the honour once again to pray at the Ismail Aga Camii.
Hands full with shopping from here and Spice Bazar, we then decided to head back to the apartment to drop off the bags. Ten minutes after we entered the apartment, the weather turned dramatically and we watched the clouds roll over the Bosphorus. A storm was brewing. And brew it did..
The storm went on for roughly an hour, large crystal-like hailstones pelting against the windows and the winds crashing through trees. Thank God we were safely in the apartment ‘by chance’ – who would’ve expected such a drastic change from clear sunny skies to dark thunderous clouds!
When the storm subsided and the rain had ceased, we headed out once more; it was sad to see so many toppled trees, including one which had crushed the outdoor seating of a local restaurant, but we’re grateful that – from what we could see – no one had been hurt. I do hope that’s true throughout the city.
Here’s the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) after the storm.
We did little else that day, except for trying out a new place to eat and strolling down the main streets late into the night. There is a strange serenity in the air after a storm..
