From Arizona I went to Istanbul. I wanted to take a trip just for me. A place that I always wanted to go to but kept putting off hoping that a better time would come. I realized that time is NOW. I have always wanted to go to a city rich in architecture, history, culture, beauty, and ofcourse great cuisine. Turkey seemed like the right spot! One of my best friends from college and I spent a week sight seeing the most historic land marks in history. From Chora Church, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to Pierre Lotte, Dolbabache Palace, and the Grand Bazaar- every place opened my heart to the true beauty of the world. Before I left my friend Manish told me so eloquently, "While experiencing the world, let the world experience you." So that is just what I did.
The beauty of the landscape is indescribable. God's work can truly be treasured in every corner of this big city! The blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, the sound of prayers coming from the nearby mosque, and the smell of spices from the food stalls permeating the air had something for every 5 senses. The Ottoman and Byzantine Empires left their mark by building both churches and mosques thousands of years ago. Every place I would see the same question popped into my head, " What would it be like to have roamed the halls along with the Sultans and Emperors of this time?" The museums housed artifacts from 300 and 400 BC, which really puts into perspective how small we all are compared to the world. Jewels were abundant back then, as we saw at the Topkapi palace. Rubies, diamonds, and pearls housed enough jewelry to take our economy out of debt!
My mind still cannot comprehend the time that has passed between the old world and this new one we have created. It made me think, what are the jewels that we will leave behind for those that will come after us? We might not have any physical gems to bequeath but perhaps knowledge, love, and leaving the world a little bit of a better place should be enough. So my next stop is Nagpur, India where I hope to give back to the world a little of what it has given me.
what a beautiful spirit you have Rupa!
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