![\"DSC00549\"](\"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/DSC00549.jpg\")
<\/a>Breakfast provided each morning at the hotel.<\/p><\/div>\n
Stepping outside the hotel onto the street, a change occurs. \u00a0The muezzin’s call<\/em> to worship<\/em>\u00a0to believers five times a day (via loud speakers) scattered all over the city could never be ignored (and apparently weren\u2019t meant to be).<\/p>\n Numerous Minarets positioned high above the mosques and town buildings.<\/p><\/div>\n Minaret towers<\/p><\/div>\n Beginning at daybreak the chant\/call to prayer begins by reminding listeners, “Prayer is better than sleep.” \u00a0The muezzin continues by shouting four times, \u00a0“Allah is Most Great; then, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah”( twice). \u00a0He calls out, “I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” (twice); followed by, “come to prayer” (twice); “come to the good” (twice) and finally closing with “Allah is most great” (two more times).<\/p>\n Does anyone really listen? \u00a0Can anyone actually ignore these?<\/p>\n Whether it was due to the broad mixture of cultures or a more westernized islamic faith, we didn’t witness any public responses to these calls for prayer. \u00a0It was hard enough listening to these “chants”<\/em> without actually witnessing men kneeling on rugs with heads bowed to Allah.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, this extreme Islamic behavior (and thinking) invades this modern city. \u00a0This is not a watered down<\/em> Islamic religion practiced in our more\u00a0westernized <\/em>countries. \u00a0These core values and practices displayed here date back to the Ottoman period. Both the core beliefs and expected behaviors dictate every facet of life–relationships and family life; governing laws and religious rules; school and social interactions–everything falls under accepted<\/em>\u00a0 and dictated<\/em> practices of Islam for men, women and children.<\/p>\n Clothing stores on the main tourist streets contained silks, leathers and furs. \u00a0 Those on side streets held appropriate dress styles for modest muslim women\u2014cotton undergarments, long dark skirts and black burkas. \u00a0Except for one expensive leather and fur shop every store we entered ignored our presence and never said a word to us as we looked around. \u00a0Shops appealing to tourists still catered to muslim populations.<\/p>\n Topkapi Palace–residence of the Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years–is centrally located within Sultanahmet. \u00a0In 1924, following the formal abolishment of the caliphate, this palace was converted into a museum, thus allowing general public access to some of the areas.<\/p>\n Topkapi Palace–for the Sultans<\/p><\/div>\n We stood out, or rather, I stood out. My blonde hair and westernized clothing separated me from the muslim women cloaked in black garments. Though I thought I dressed modestly and often covered my head with a black scarf. \u00a0I was still uncovered compared to the muslim women and stood out<\/p>\n Entering the main gate for entrance into Topkapi Palace.<\/p><\/div>\n Muslim men dressed in modern clothing (jeans, tennis shoes and comfortable shirts) with backpacks and leather coats while their women were covered head to toe following behind or to the side from their men. I sensed the men\u2019s animosity and the women\u2019s curiosity toward me as both gazed in my direction. I kept my own attention on the sights around me.<\/p>\n Following behind–dressing in an all black burka.<\/p><\/div>\n Walking behind her modern dressed man.<\/p><\/div>\n Guarding the gate of the palace.<\/p><\/div>\n Typical designs inside each room of the palace.<\/p><\/div>\n “logo” and Inscription over doorways.<\/p><\/div>\n Photos are not allowed inside most rooms. I mistakenly thought I could take a few photos of children\u2019s clothing. I found out how wrong I was when a guard looked through my camera photos advising which ones I had to delete! \u00a0Nodding his head as I asked “this one too? (to delete)” we looked at each photo until he was satisfied I hadn’t broken the rules.<\/p>\n Tourists pushed us aside to gaze at the swords, jewelry, thrones and relics of this 600 year sultan history. \u00a0Large Jewels, robes, weapons, crowns–all symbols of the Sultan’s power and authority over his people. \u00a0One particular sword stood out: one of the Swords of Islam. An inscription engraved onto the blade caused my stomach to lurch. \u00a0Everything I’d heard about this inscription was true. \u00a0Seeing it emblazoned across the large sword’s blade provided insight into the determination of these Islamic extremists.<\/p>\n The view from Topkapi Palace to the Golden Horn waterway areas surrounding the oldest part of the city.<\/p><\/div>\n The six minaret Blue Mosque.<\/p><\/div>\n While visiting the famous Blue Mosque, a man purporting to be a \u201chelpful citizen of Istanbul\u201d advised us as to which entrance to use (the Northern entrance for unbelievers) and the correct protocol of dress (no shoes allowed) in this place of worship. Those of us considered \u201cunclean\u201d were given blue plastic covers for our feet and a bag in which to place our shoes prior to entering this mosque.<\/p>\n Heads must be covered for women prior to entering into the Blue Mosque. We watched the few believers inside the barricade who came to worship in this place.<\/p><\/div>\n Two sets of fathers and sons–one to the left with an older son stood facing a blank wall. The other led his much younger son (dressed in white robe and turban) around the mosque taking photos in each location.<\/p><\/div>\n The tiles with inscriptions.<\/p><\/div>\n The blue ceiling and wall tiles cover the inside of this mosque–thus called the Blue Mosque<\/p><\/div>\n An white bearded elder sits inside the building inside the mosque, looks around and ponders a prayer book he is looking through.<\/p><\/div>\n Though the interior is striking with its blue tiles, high ceilings, and large worship area we\u2019d seen enough. Time to leave.<\/p>\n The gates of the Blue Mosque.<\/p><\/div>\n Just as we exited the mosque the same helpful citizen walked away from his group of friends to talk with us. He asked if we took photos and said \u201cOh, you missed the best spot.\u201d He led us back to the same area we\u2019d been earlier all the while providing information about the sultans and the reason for chains hung across doorways.<\/p>\n Chains across the entrance to the Blue Mosque requiring everyone (even the Sultan) to bow (to clear the chain) before entering.<\/p><\/div>\n We stood for a moment in the adjoining courtyard as he spoke of the mosque\u2019s construction. Pointing to two different obelisks we learned about the Roman coliseum surrounding these and the smoke that arose from each announcing an event about to take place.<\/p>\n One of two obelisks towering above the street area just in front of the Blue Mosque.<\/p><\/div>\n Inscription on the Roman Obelisks.<\/p><\/div>\n Hieroglyphic inscriptions on the obelisks.<\/p><\/div>\n I busily took photos of the stone carvings on one obelisk and missed the following conversation. He talked of Christians slaughtered by lions in this coliseum, and boasted about the use of the bloodied stones disassembled from the coliseum to build the blue mosque. He smiled as if we were all friends. Wanting to show us his uncle\u2019s rug shop about a block away, perhaps we\u2019d want to purchase one to take home. Pointing to one area where this shop was located, he led us into that direction. It wasn\u2019t there. A little further, \u201cjust around the corner”; <\/em>still no rug store. \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0We were Americans in a land surrounded by ISIS fighters. The uncle\u2019s store was not where we understood it to be. \u00a0Nothing added up.<\/p>\n Brian was in protection mode. This man was from Kurdishstan–a Kurd–yet, he was uninterested in other Kurds fighting for their lives just a few hundred miles away.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>