Topkapi Palace & Sulymaniye Hamam

Topkapi Palace was our main agenda for today, and we arrived at 9 am, just when it opened. We went first to the Harem section and what a splendid piece of architecture, inside and out. Lots of gold and the most beautiful tiles I've ever seen. The colors were so rich with blues and reds predominately, and some greens and turquoises. There were many little rooms with couches just off the floor, some for the concubines to sleep like a very ornate dormitory room. What a magnificent jail for them! We had coffee there overlooking the Bosphorus and our 5th baklava. They have several different kinds, so we must try them all. Then we went in the display of jewels. Wow! Sabers, daggers, pins and medals, hair decorations, turban decorations, and more all covered with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls. It was sparkle, sparkle, sparkle everywhere. No photos allowed, however, so I can't share what they looked like.

For dinner we ate at the Antique Turauoise; Terry got a most interesting dish that was served on a flaming burner in a copper dish with a tall pointed lid. Mine was good, too.

Then tonight we went to the Suleymaniye Hamam, a steam and bath ceremony inside a building from the 1500's built out of marble. What an interesting and beautiful place. We feel like wet noodles, however, and are barely hanging on. In fact, Terry just left the computer room for bed. I'm following immediately.

Tomorrow we are taking the Pamukkale Express, the overnight train to Pamukkale, leaving from the Asian side of the Bosphorus at 5:35 in the afternoon, arriving in Pamukkale at 7:30 am on Saturday. So, I have to get some sleep. Good night.