The Standstill Beauty of Europe and Asia

I gazed out the window, fixated, as the blur of historic foundations whirred by at the speed of light. It felt as if I had been transported into the past- the days of black and white where laughter was never far. Maneuvering up the steep cobblestone road, the vintage car slowed to a stop; the engine was softly humming. I ambled out, almost stumbling over the suitcases. Apart from those familiar belongings, I was sure I was in an alternate and peaceful world.

This was Istanbul.

The rumors of sultans and luxury were a complete understatement. I stood hopelessly- mesmerized. In a trance, I stared at the crystal blue skies, a perfect depiction of paradise. Turkey. My first trip to the jewel of Europe and Asia was undoubtedly no disappointment. Since 1923, the city of Istanbul (once Constantinople) has shined like a gem only heard of in one’s imagination. Towering over me, the capital glowed brighter than its night sky: spirals of century-old buildings; religious mosques and musical streets. Standing in the distance was the infamous Bosphorus Bridge. Silently, I glimpsed over at the incredible construction, overlooking two continents on opposite sides. Vehicles whizzed past with flying colours of gold and red. Meandering to the doorstep, I was awoken by the gentle purring of a wild kitten. With resemblance of a tabby cat, its stripes ran for miles with the ferocity of a tiger’s. Shortly after its graceful arrival, it scampered back down towards the side alley after realization that the pockets of my worn denim shirt did not contain any food. Exhausted, weathered and overwhelmed, I grasped the fact of how tired the long journey had made me. Time for some well deserved sleep…

Each morning brought the pleasant chorus of chirping birds. I could faintly hear the workers and citizens, whose days had commenced hours ago. They were speaking the native Turkish language. How lucky was I to experience a place so different and beautiful? When I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed, I was joyfully surprised to see a steaming cup of tea waiting in the sunshine. Battling the hummingbird from my hibiscus-filled mug, I lowered myself into a prime seat overlooking the city. Istanbul lay in front of me, providing me with a picturesque bird’s eye view. Today would be an entirely new experience. Luckily for me, I had studied my heart out in preparation for the trip to this new country. Thankfully, I had encountered a rustic little stall on the boundaries of the local streets. Equipped with my new souvenir representing the religion of Istanbul, I set out the door in the footsteps of a new adventure. I knew from that moment that this would undoubtedly stick in my memory for the rest of my life.

The reviews on trip advisor could not begin to describe the beauty of this religious monument. No travel book could begin to describe the glory that was the one and only Blue Mosque. I had only ever dreamt of such an enormous, serene and overpowering place! Blue and infinite as the ocean, it stood fully decked in: patterned tiles fit for royalty; domes constructed for the gods and spiraling towers made to be awed. The hours of wait were all worth it. Wow. The minute I stepped inside the spacious mosque, there was no doubt in my mind as to why it was the most popular Muslim mosque. At this moment, thousands of Muslims were preparing for the worship of Allah. Everything was so tranquil; it felt as if I was underwater. Surrounding me was the background noise of murmuring and the silent prayers of thousands of Muslims wearing multicoloured headscarves. They were extremely subtle, as if standing out inside this masterpiece was a sin. A chandelier of one hundred bulbs wound together hung delicately over the center of the stunning mosque. Intertwining with each other, they were constantly reminiscent of the respect and religion that they lay within. The sun shone through the stained glass windows and coloured light shadows danced on the holy, carpeted ground. Everything was quiet and peaceful. Time was insignificant and there was no apparent rush. Life stood still. Stone carvings clung to the never-ending walls for dear life. Suddenly but swiftly, the indistinct call -composed of ancient song lyrics- rung through the building and all of the streets, signaling all Muslims for prayers in the nearest mosque. For the duration of the trip, I vividly remember the prayer call five times a day: at sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. I marveled at its ability to wake only the ones who longed for it, and play softly for those who are of different religions. Devotion to giving and forgiveness was a true quality of the people in Istanbul especially. Culture was a stand out part of my vacation, and undoubtedly taught me knowledge of the beautiful city. With great hesitation, I slowly backed out of the beautiful building as the dark drew nearer.

A short while afterwards, I was once again gazing over the horizon as I watched the sun set. An explosion of colour motioned the end of the day. At night, The Blue Mosque shone like a Christmas tree, and undoubtedly popped among even the brightest of glimmering stars.

Izzy