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By Debi Lander<\/em> Many months ago, my friend Judy and I decided to visit Turkey, starting in Istanbul. We discussed the recent bombings and unrest in the world but decided that fear was not going to stop us. We\u2019d be mindful and hope for the best. Besides, who can predict when or where the next violent rampage will happen in the United States? <\/span><\/p>\n Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, was the hub of the civilized world for centuries and the city\u2019s treasures remain a powerful draw.<\/span><\/p>\n Before entering the glorious Blue Mosque, we removed our shoes and covered our heads with scarves. The courtyard and fountains are reminiscent of the seductive Alhambra in Spain. We kept encountering dome after dome overhead as we passed from the courtyard into the sacred place. <\/span><\/p>\n The mosque was constructed between 1606 \u2013 1616 and the intricate curvilinear detail on the ceiling is like a fine embroidered silk. Multiple small domes and the main dome fill the vast interior held aloft by the hugest columns I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n A roped off section is still used by Muslims who come to pray. The plan was to build a mosque larger than neighboring Hagia Sophia, but Sultan Ahmet changed his mind and scaled down the size. Nevertheless, visually the architecture and design of the exterior are much grander than its historic neighbor. <\/span><\/p>\n We left the Blue Mosque through a doorway that opens toward a wide plaza between these UNESCO World Heritage sites. The pedestrian-only park is alive with vibrant flowering gardens, fountains and walkways. <\/span><\/p>\n Hagia Sofia was originally built and used as an Orthodox Church for about 1,000 years. In 1435, it was converted into a mosque. Turkey\u2019s first president, Ataturk, proclaimed it a museum in 1935. Therefore, visitors do not need to cover their heads, but must pass through a typical TSA-like screening.<\/span><\/p>\n The center dome is the fourth\u00a0largest in the world (following the Vatican, St. Paul\u2019s in London and Florence\u2019s Duomo.) It is, of course, the oldest, completed in 532 AD. The dome\u2019s diameter measures 107 feet and appears to hang in midair without support.<\/span><\/p>\n
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