Finally, I had made it. The saving, the planning, all of it had lead to here, Instanbul, and eternal city. I was sitting at the edge of the Blue Mosque, across the street from the Aya Sophia Mosque, actually eating a shishkabob, drinking a (typical American) Coke.
The sun was starting to go down into the straight, highlighting the shadows cast by the dozens of ships waiting to go through. Each one was turned black, on a field of dark blue and gold, sunset not far away. I took another bite of the shishkebab, which was not bad, but not what I expected (which is half the fun of travelling). Kinda small, but the rice made up for it, almost like dirty rice back home. And only for 3,000 lira. Turkey was the first place I'd ever been to that would make a favorable argument for scientific notation on their money..;) It smelled good, tasted good, even though it was tourist food.
It was about then that I heard it. The loudest sound I will ever hear..I've been to Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, King's X..this was louder. I've heard buildings be demolished, trucks grinding their gears, rappers with bazoooka speakers in the back..this was louder. It was the muzzein's call to prayer (I'm sitting next to 2 mosques, ya figure?..;), amplified, and when you get a call like that, it's best to listen. I watched the faithful enter the mosque..in small groups. I knew in effect what he was saying, but it could have been a recording.
Getting up, leaving a tip, I made my way to the Aya Sofia mosque..formerly known as the Hagia Sophia Orthadox cathedral. The walls were slightly honey-colored as I walked in, to see where generations of Byzantines were crowned, revolutions plotted, and byzantine political manueverings got their name. Two things had brought me here, Harry Turtledoves' alternate Byzantine empire books, and, strangely enought, They Might be Giants, doing 'Istanbul not Constantinople'..being younger, and with less financial burdens, I had decided to go see what all the fuss was about (I knew I wasn't crazy a few days later when I hear someone else whistling the tune..;).
Though you would think such a large city would smell bad, this one didn't. Maybe it was because I was standing next to an ancient monument. Maybe it was because it was clean. But you looked around, and imagined all the places, and all the people who had ever walked through here.

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)