On the Metro this morning I read some of Lonely Planet's Pocket Guide, (I brought a bunch of guide books with me) and it was the first time I had read about the Aya Sofya tombs, which are free to enter, and located in a courtyard behind the Aya Sofya museum. So, after taking the tram from Sirkeci to Sultanahmet, I scouted them out.
There were four or five separate small buildings, each more beautiful than the next, and each with sarcophagi inside. Very solemn. I had to remove my shoes before entering, just like at a mosque, although I did not need a head covering. I also had to go through a security X-ray.
After spending an hour there, I returned to Dervish Cafe and wrote the previous blog post. Likely my last visit, which is hard to consider.
My last bowl of Dondurmalar, sigh. (Believe me, I am working it off!). Do you see the woman smoking the nargile in the background?
As I proceeded to the tram to head to the Spice Bazaar at Eminönü, I tried not to think about how it was likely my last time to see these great sites up close. I took my zillionth photo of Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque.
I headed to the Spice Market, and then to the Mosque of Süleymaniye, the Magnificent. But that will be another post.
Güle güle.
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