I managed to get a throat infection so I have been slow at keeping up with our adventures. Back on track now. For $350 lira the equivalent of $70 Canadian I saw an ear, nose and throat specialist. I am now on 3 different types of antibiotics. Hooray.
Oct 31 we went to Topkapi Palace which is a museum now but served as the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th century on.
Later we went to the Suleymaniye Mosque. It was built by Suleyman the Magnificient. It is the largest Imperial Mosque in Istanbul.
Today, I also had a Traditional Turkish Haman Ritual at the Kilic Ali Pasa Hamami established in 1580. OH MY if you ever get to Istanbul make sure you go there!
A hamam or traditional Turkish bath is quite a treat. First when I went in I was seated and received a refreshing sherbet drink. With that I was given a locker key to a full sized locker that held a beautiful Turkish towel and thongs for my feet. I did not have a bikini bottom so they gave me disposable underwear, well if you could call it that. I was directed to wrap the towel around myself under my arms then go through a door where an attendant would greet me. Once through the door the attendant took my towel and wrapped it around my waist then took me by the hand into a small room where two other women were seated. The room was completely made of beautiful marble, floor, walls, ceiling, benches and large sinks on the walls. I was seated on the marble bench beside a gorgeous marble sink with water running into it and over the sides. The attendant then took what looked like a copper basin filled it repeatedly from the sink and literally doused us all at least four times. Fortunately she started with the others as that gave me a chance to cover my face. I hate water on my face.
From there I was led into an immense round room with a domed ceiling. The floor and walls were made of marble as were all the sinks and benches around the periphery of the room. In the centre of the room was a huge round heated marble dais, I would estimate to be at least 25 feet across and 4 feet high. Lying on the marble were approximately 10 women. I was shown to my spot to lie down with my head facing the centre. The process allows your body to relax and your pores to open as you sweat. So nice! after about 10 minutes I was tapped on the leg and given a drink of water. Then I laid down for about 10 more minutes. A woman then woke me up by tapping my leg, I was sound asleep; she took me by the hand to one of the washing areas where I sat on the marble bench by a large marble sink and agin I was doused at least four times with warm water. There were 10 stations around the room so I could watch and see what was coming as the woman spoke no English. I leaned forward and she took a loofah glove and soap and scrubbed my back then chest arms and legs. Next I stood facing the wall beside me with my arms raised against the wall and she did the back of my legs and butt. Sitting down again she rinsed me then took bar soap and a softer loofah glove washed my face and my entire body again. And there was more. She took a large net bag that expanded to about three feet in height and diameter full of bubbles and squeezed it over me four times. The bubbles were rich with oil. Once I was covered to my neck she used her hands to give my back, neck, shoulders and arms and a massage. More rinsing then my head and body were wrapped in towels and I was led to the reclining area where I laid back on pillows and drank tea chatting with the lady next to me about our new experience.
BeverleyandJohn's2018Travels 