The Aya Sofia survived the Byzantine and the Ottoman empires - grand, ancient - and awe-inspiring. But it was so huge and dark the pictures ended up looking dark and ugly.
Ah, my Sandman stuff on my bookshelves. They are cute, aren't they? :)
Matt I loved the Mary & Jesus at the Aya Sofia too - but my close up of the picture was blurry because of the lighting and my shaky hands.
I went to Turkey during late March-early April - it was still winter, the off-peak season. Prices were lower, so it works out. But there were parts of the Aya Sofia that was under-going restoration - because they were preparing for the tourist season mid-April. I hated the scaffoldings that blocked the view of the central dome.
Turkey looks beautiful. I REALLY want to visit the Aya Sofia some day. I remember that this desire first started when I read about it in one of Anne Rice's books.
Nymeth Oh yes, it's a beautiful place - though things are more expensive in Istanbul than the rest of Turkey. And then you have to beat off the shop-owners who would follow you.
6 comments:
turkey... wow. the aya sofia is particularly beautiful... and yes, OLD!!
and those bookshelves... they are indeed looming bookshelves of death :)
but seriously, they're very cool! they're so chock full of books!! love it. :) and all the little statuettes and stuff...
The Aya Sofia survived the Byzantine and the Ottoman empires - grand, ancient - and awe-inspiring. But it was so huge and dark the pictures ended up looking dark and ugly.
Ah, my Sandman stuff on my bookshelves. They are cute, aren't they? :)
The picture with Mary and Jesus between two massive Islamic calligraphic signs is my favorite!
Carvings of Four Muses remind me of the rubbles and debris in Angkor Wat.
Did you go during low season? There aren't many people in sight. :)
Matt I loved the Mary & Jesus at the Aya Sofia too - but my close up of the picture was blurry because of the lighting and my shaky hands.
I went to Turkey during late March-early April - it was still winter, the off-peak season. Prices were lower, so it works out. But there were parts of the Aya Sofia that was under-going restoration - because they were preparing for the tourist season mid-April. I hated the scaffoldings that blocked the view of the central dome.
Turkey looks beautiful. I REALLY want to visit the Aya Sofia some day. I remember that this desire first started when I read about it in one of Anne Rice's books.
Nymeth Oh yes, it's a beautiful place - though things are more expensive in Istanbul than the rest of Turkey. And then you have to beat off the shop-owners who would follow you.
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