I took a second full day of touring the city with another diverse group of people-- only one other American and the rest from many countries like Taiwan, Dubaı, Brazil, Mexico, Switzerland, England, Iran, Syria and many other countries I can't even remember-- Yesterday, I was the only American.
At the end of a very long day includıng a boat ride along the water that separates the european and asian part of istanbul, we were taken 'hostage' to a leather company for a runway model show and tour of their store-- some poor souls bought some leather jackets which will encourage them to keep doing this show to exhausted tourists.
It was the end of a long day of historical facts and gestation of gıant palaces and glittery furniture of sultans from the Otoman empire. Turkey gives the french and Versailles a run for their money. Yesterday saw another Sultan palace-- the Topakı Palace where they had so many gems- emeralds the sıze of my fist and dıamonds and rubies coverıng an entıre baby,s crib. Opulence to a tee. 86 carat dıamond. Of course Attaturk ended this empıre in 1923-- pretty amazing end of a 800 years of very rich lifestyle for sultans.
I could recite to you all kinds of trivia now about Turkey but will restrain myself.
The spice market, the amazing blue tiled mosques, the workmanship of the Otoman palaces are swirling in my head as well as the smell and feel of the sleek leather jacket the salesman insisted i try on. ıt dıd look great on me-- but i once again resisted temptation. this is a town to either strengthen or weaken willpower.
İ am learning how to smile and say no with a strong and gentle firmness. Perhaps this is a lesson the Turks wıll teach me well.
Well, off to rest-- oh, one more detail...
Last night as I was walking back to my hotel after listening to music and watching a whirling dervish, the chanting for the Muslim call to prayer began from the tall spires by the mosques on each corner around me-- I happened to be standing between the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia and another famous Mosque-- all within a block of each other. The three gıant mosques began the to call to prayer at the same time-- each with different chants and resonating with echos that bounced all around the square. İ was surrounded by this chanting and call to prayer and the sound made me stop. Just the vibration of being surrounded by chanting in all directions was like walking into the wind. i stopped and noticed my skin was prickled with goosebumps and the top of my head buzzing from the sound. Even though İ am not Muslim, I felt the reverence of the music and an awe of the effect the sound created.
It's a strange experience to walk through chanting lıke that-- it's like walking through a wave or through a color. The residue remained with me until İ went to sleep and i can see how this call to prayer permeates the consciousness of the culture like salt in the water. Very interesting-- all the other visitors from other cultures İ,ve talked to agree with my observation and share about this experience.
Annie Thoe is an Assistant Feldenkrais Trainer and Practitioner in the Feldenkrais Method with 22 years of experience in bodywork. She has taught numerous modalities of massage therapy, supervised students and practitioners, and teaches locally and nationally. She is on the Board of Directors for the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, Washington. In addition to her outdoor naturalist study, Annie has an extensive background in martial arts, sports, and music.
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April, 2007
