The Glorious Hagia Sophia- By your death you will be remembered

During the last two weeks right before my Egypt trip, I had been sleepless. I was 14 and it would have been my first trip somewhere outside of Europe. I had been full of excitement, finally I was going to see the Pyramids. The history, exoticism, spooky stories about the involvement of aliens in erected of the Pyramids, books about the secrets and conspiracy theories of the Pyramids (Erich von Däniken ones for sure), Ancient Egypt, gods and goddesses… How could I sleep?

Every time I am in a new place, but mostly in my own city-Miklagard, I feel that the tourists are always in a rush to see every touristic corner, take more and more pictures. Sometimes I get the feeling that they just travel to see buildings. That is quite not my understanding of traveling. I like to “feel” the places; spending some more time in certain areas rather than 20 minute long tours for taking 100 pictures, talking to the locals and asking for advice from them, having a coffee in a small cafe reading, discovering the streets on my own and getting lost.

I had guests from Norway lately and I resisted not to take them to touristic places for a few days. We went to a lot of non touristic places, and the weather was not helping really. Soaked in sweat, we managed to enjoy what Miklagard offered us. But then, the day has arrived! I took them to Sultanahmet, the heart of the old town where gives what they want to tourists. Tons of historical places and clichés. Yes, that’s the town you can buy a fez and Turkish delights, leather shoes, carpets, water pipes, apple tea and many more. There was a time being that I used to take Ottoman language courses in that town, I was totally not enjoying it except the great park called Gülhane Parkı! (Parks again…) I only like the place so I could practice Ottoman by reading the historical writings on the buildings, fountains etc.

Then I was in Hagia Sophia, world-know church-mosque. And I was feeling as in Egypt, in front of the Pyramids. History was there, it was an exquisite and interesting place but tourists flashing their cameras even it’s not allowed and the crowd left no room for any excitement  or inner experience.

I will not even get into the history of Hagia Sophia. I want to leave you something to discover on your own when you arrive to Miklagard. It’s just that try to choose a week day, Monday and Tuesday are the best and go in the morning. The entrance is 25 liras, (around 12 euros) which I think quite expensive. (I have been there 3 times in total and it has been always expensive compared to other museums!)

As a tourist, you’ll go to Sultanahmet at one point, drink apple tea while having water pipe, talking about how “east and west meets in Istanbul” , reading from your city guide book, and going to Hagia Sophia. Because it’s a must see! But if you do it, spend some time in it as some do in the picture above. Sit on the ground, feel the place. Take a moment without taking a picture.