Monsiur Camembert, I hear your song!
It's the last day of The Tour and I'm so over it. I just want a day of rest to recharge my batteries and get my life in order again. They really pack it in these Fez Tours. So many early mornings, followed by too many things in one day.
It's like a check-list of 'been there, done that' rather than having some time really absorb it all, research, chew it over, feel it.
Today was just pushing it too much for me. My leg misbehaved. We walked kilometres. And our rough chain-smoking disgruntled bad tempered mad guide, talked too much with too little regard for us.
We got off to a late start and picking up some other passengers in the old quarter, golden horn, which is not made for traffic yet there's plenty of it.
Our first stop was the Greco-Roman Hippodrome/Stadium and an explanation of this earthquake prone area which is really like a layercake of history with the next stuff being rebuilt on the ruins of the last.
The next was the Blue Mosque. We scarved up and shoed off, and it was a total surprise for me inside. I hadn't expected it to be so light and so decorative. All those lovely symbols of the flowers: tulip, carnation and rose, in beautiful designs and patterns. So uplifting to the spirit.
The guide went on about its earthquake proof construction, and how a girls job was to weave a carpet. She was selected as a wife by its merits. After she died the carpet came to this mosque. But they were then 'relocated' and now they have to make do with a nylon carpet. (see Facebook for photos)
San Sophia opposite the Blue Mosque, looked like a Mosque but it was a Byzantine Church, rebuilt 3 times following Earth Quakes. It contained some interesting mosaics and is UNESCO world Heritage listed, but I found it dark and gloomy. Very hotch potch.
After this we visited Top Kapi Palace, the home of the Sultan. While very beautiful with gorgeous gardens, architecture and detail in tilework, calligraphy etc, I was really struggling physically. And my thoughts were saying 'you bloody opulent Sultans. all these world leaders rubbing shoulders with you, because you're so rich and powerful. Yet your Empire has amassed wealth from.pillaging other countries and their people'. Maybe I'll look at it differently after rest.
But no, we kept going. After food we were taken to a silk and angora scarf shop. They like us to buy but we don't. Last stop is the Grand Bazaar. It may have been special in the past but it exists for tourists these days. We take a peak, then catch the train back to the Hotel
And rest!
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