ISTANBUL: THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE

It seems that every building in Istanbul, at least in the Sultanahmet section (the old city), has a spiral staircase. Many hotels have a rooftop restaurant, and even though they have an elevator, the rooftop is accessed by a spiral staircase. These are sometimes tricky to navigate, especially at night when, if you don't move quickly, the motion-sensor hall light switches turn off and you're left in the dark on a narrow spiral stairway.

The spiral stairway is a connector, it allows access to every level in the building, yet takes up only a small amount of space.

The Bosphorus is the body of water that connects the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, and is the divide between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. If you look at a map, the Bosphorus is shaped somewhat like a spiral staircase. It, too, is a connector, allowing access to both Asia and Europe in this marvelous city. As we visit various historic sites in Istanbul, we are struck by the pivotal role this city has played through the ages. It has been a major hub for commerce and conquest, and the Bosphorus is a major part of the key.

OK, so perhaps I've carried this one as far as it can go. But the truth is that being in Istanbul is being on a spiral staircase. Once you've gotten part way, the way ahead, as well as the way behind - the past and the future - are full of twists, turns, and potential darkness/mystery. What a fantastic history! The conquests and empires, the diversity of peoples, the influences of multiple cultures, the multitude of landforms and landscapes. Our visit to the Archaeology Museum and the ancient city of Ephesus only whetted our appetites for knowledge about this part of the world, this spiral staircase (aha, I did it!). 

And what about the future? Turkey is in major transitions both politically and culturally. We understand that there are an increasing number of people who are more traditional Muslims, with women wearing head coverings as well as full coverings. There is a growing struggle between secularism and religion. Turkey is also changing with the regional geo-political shifts in the Middle East and this part of Asia; and the Turks want to be the regional powerhouse. This means new and stronger ties with Iran, as well as the emerging governments in the "Arab Spring" nations. The future is the unseen way ahead on the spiral staircase. 

As I posted on Facebook this morning, we're travel weary and longing for home. There are things about this culture that wear us down; primarily the sense of being seen as wealthy tourists = an easy mark. But we've met wonderful people, seen incredible things, and overall have enjoyed being here for this brief time. 

I'll put together a group of photos on Picasa and link it from here for you to enjoy, dear reader. Until then, thank you for reading this, and we hope you enjoy your own travel adventures.