My second day in Turkey would be the start of an eight day adventure & sightseeing tour! I awoke early and headed to the hotel café for breakfast. The hotel stay included breakfast, as part of my tour package with Yuki Tours. Aubergine(eggplant soup) with a veggie broth, watermelon, rose jam, local green and purple olives, and a salad rounded out my morning meal. My beverage was a pomegranate juice. It was satisfying and vegan-friendly.
The tour guide arrived at my hotel and thus the day’s program began! The first stop was Istanbul’s infamous Grand Bazaar. Aisle upon aisle, corridor upon corridor, tourists could find and bargain for pottery, jewels, clothing, bags, and a plethora of other gifts. My purchase was a colorful bowl and coaster.
Next up was a visit to the Roman Hippodrome. This plaza was used a sports arena for chariot racing and as a social center during the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Theodosius adorned the grounds with an obelisk brought from Egypt during the 14th century BC and another one was erected in the 10th century at the opposite end of the hippodrome.
At the northern end of the Hippodrome stands a gazebo styled German Fountain. It was built to commemorate the German Chancellor’s visit to Istanbul in 1898, primarily in hopes of building a Europe-Asia railway. The ornate dome with marble columns and golden mosaics is a reminder of neo-Byzantine architecture.
We headed over to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known to tourists as “The Blue Mosque”. Blue tiles grace the walls of it’s interior. Sultan Ahmed build this mosque to please his God, after nonvictorious results during the war with Persia. He had to use treasury funds. It stands tall with it’s six minarets towering in the sky. Gorgeous stained glass windows adorn the sides. The mihreb(semi circular niche pointing to Mecca) is made of sculptured marble.
The ceiling is comprised of colorfully tiles in their mosaic covered domes. Gorgeous blues and reds abound!
Hagia Sophia was next on our agenda. Constructed in the year 537, it first served as a Greek Orthodox cathedral, later a mosque, and now a museum. The church houses some holy relics. When the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453, it was converted to a mosque. The Christian mosaics were removed or painted over. In 1923, it became a museum.
After our tour, we were off to a local restaurant for lunch. Since it was included in our tour package, I also dined there at Tamara Restaurant (Tamara Restaurant) with my group. My English-speaking tour guide conveyed my vegan requirements to the wait staff and chef. For the first course, I had the lentil soup and lavish bread. A side of Turkish salad with oil and lemon juice accompanied it.
My main entrée was a veggie mix of cooked dry beans, green beans, potatoes, eggplant(aubergine) in a tomato sauce. It was filling and really delicious! Aubergines are very popular in Turkish cuisine and vegans will be pleased to find them in some form at every meal. For a snack, we were served some fresh watermelon slices.
After lunch, our guide surprised us with a visit to a rug making shop. Some carpets are made of 100% cotton. It is Turkish tradition to show hospitality to guests by offering a beverage to them. We were given some tasty apple tea, popular in Turkey.
The tour guide pointed out the largest mosque(Süleymaniye Mosque) in the city on the nearby hill.
Our next stop was the Topkapi Palace. This was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th century.
We visited the section that was known to be the administrative offices. Sitting rooms for royal guests contained plush lengthy sofas and decorative pottery.
One section of the palace now houses a museum of revered treasures of the Christian and Muslim religions. Moses staff, as well as prophet Mohammed’s possessions are displayed within glass cases. Really impressive!
The grounds include a mosque, bakery and kitchen, private sitting areas, and gorgeous rose gardens.
The tour had completed for the day! I was on my own to enjoy the evening in Istanbul. My thoughts turned to dinner. Before jumping on the tram toward the restaurant destination, I picked up some roasted chestnuts at a street cart nearby. What a yummy snack!
The tram took me back up to the Galata neighborhood from which I walked to a vegan-friendly restaurant for dinner. Parsifal (Parsifal Restaurant) is a mostly vegan restaurant with a huge variety of local Turkish and international dishes.
A hearty bread with olive oil for dipping started my dining experience. Grapefruit juice was my beverage of choice.
For my main course, I opted for the special platter consisting of a variety of Turkish delicacies. It included dolmas(stuffed grape leaves), sautéed veggies(zucchini, aubergine, tomatoes), a veggie burger, a borek(savory pastry filled with potatoes), grilled skewer veggies, and a side of rice. I highly recommend this restaurant! My meal was very flavorful and delicious!
For dessert, I selected the vegan brownie. This was a decadent and moist cake, served warm with powdered sugar on top. The taste was absolutely fabulous!
My tummy was happy and it was time for a stroll around the vibrant beyoglu district. The streets sprung to life with multicolored neon signs, while huge crowds enjoyed the revelry and music in the streets!
I wandered into a few of the shops to browse for souvenirs and snacks. My purchase was another form of Turkish Delight known as “cezerye”. This treat is made of caramelized carrots, stuffed with pistachios and sprinkled with coconut. It was really an enjoyable sweet!
During the short time span that I have been in Istanbul thus far, I can already feel the helpfulness and kindness of the people here! Many locals have been very gracious helping me with directions and general assistance. As a solo female traveler, I feel safe and respected.
My evening was complete. As I got back on the tram heading back to my hotel, I looked forward to the next day’s adventures on the Bosphorus Sea around Istanbul.