The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Seeing the Blue Mosque was one of the highlights of our trip so far! It was built in the 15th century and is a patchwork of color and ceramics.  Going inside for us involved covering up any legs, skin and arms, as well as wearing a head scarf, if you're a woman.  I left my silk scarf (thanks Mum, it's had some wear!!!!!) in the bus, so was provided with a hospital blue headscarf to cover my hair.  We also had to remove our shoes, with the thinking being that worshippers put their heads on the floor, so you shouldn't bring stuff found on your feet into the Mosque.  Inside was very lush looking, with, once again, the carpets covering the floor and tiles, gold leaf and painting on every suface.  It is so hard to look around at these feats of engineering and think they their history is as long as our country has been occupied!

Funniest thing- two devout Muslim ladies, in the Mosque ready to pray.  They stand with their heads against the Mosque column and deep in prayer,  they switch off the rest of the hum drum and recite the Koran.  Right next to them is a group of Japanese school kids on a tour, so in a delicious juxtaposition, the kids pose just along from the praying ladies in their burkas, the kids with the typical funky kid poses and the Japanese universal sign that they are having a good time.....(peace signs with their fingers). I was not quick enough to get a photo, but it appealed to my sence of humour enormously!