Istanbul City Tour part 2

 July 27

We had the option to split our city tour into two days, so we completed the tour today by going to the Basilica Cistern. Originally intended as a palace, construction was completed around AD 541. The cistern was used as a method of storing water for the people of the city. It was joined to other cisterns throughout the city by aqueducts. It is a rectangular structure containing 336 columns, each eight meters tall, and set four meters apart. In 1962 the cistern was featured in the James Bon movie "From Russia With Love". In the middle of the cistern is one rather unique column, called the "crying column". While the design looks like the evil eye, it actually represents the club carried by Hercules in Greek mythology. In the back corner of the cistern is a small statue of Medusa that casts a rather large shadow when the lights hit just right. 

 

After the Basilica Cistern, we walked to the famous Grand Bazaar. I was unimpressed. In my opinion, the spice bazaar was a lot more interesting.  

                        


Late afternoon, we were scheduled for a Turkish bath at a traditional hamam. There are hamams all over Istanbul- even our hotel offered this service. I chose Cagaloglu Hamam for this activity because it was located in an old Ottoman building and I love the history associated with that. Prepare to be scrubbed thoroughly if you decide to do a Turkish bath. There is a men's side, and a women's side. We started the experience in a sauna, then we were taken to a large room where we were doused in water from head to toe. Ross called it a voluntary waterboarding. Charisse said they were trying to drown her standing up. Then we laid down on a stone slab where we were scrubbed and massaged from head to toe. Then they rinse you before laying you back down for the washing portion. This involved tons of bubbles. One final waterboarding and we were done. Charisse and Ross both got a full body clay mask treatment, which actually came before the scrubbing. I decided to add on a hands, feet, face moisturizing treatment, which actually came after the bath. We all finished at about the same time though. 

                      

Travel tip: Bring water. Lots of water.