Nathan's Insights

Sunday 04 June 2023
Highlights: Listening to Türkiye and Syria Earthquake fundraising concert, Exploring Topkapi Palace, recovering (slowly)

After a good nights sleep I was finally feeling a lot better and I had the confidence to enjoy the buffet breakfast that I paid for with this booking. My system hasn’t fully stablished but it is getting there.

During the morning I caught up on some much needed sleep and then listened and watched a Türkiye and Syria Earthquake fundraising concert back in Melbourne organised by a good friend and talented musican in Arzu. It was a bit surreal being in Türkiye listening to a fundraising concert in Melbourne for this very country.

With some trepidation I set out to explore Topkapi Palace in the afternoon. As it was raining lightly I dressed for wet weather but when it wasn’t raining I was sweating so I just couldn’t get the balance right.

Topkapi Palace was the home of the Sultans from the 1460s to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, serving as the center of the Ottoman Empire during this time. Construction began in 1459 six years after the conquest of Constantinople.

The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. Female members of the Sultan’s family lived in the harem (which I didn’t visit), and leading state officials, including the Grand Vizier, held meetings in the Imperial Council building. After the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the new government transformed Topkapı into a museum.

Entry to the complex costs 500 Lira (approx. $25 USD) for the main areas or 625 Lira ($30 USD) to also include The Harem. Entry included free audio commentary.

This is an impressive complex, every time I thought I had seen most of the important areas I found another courtyard. The deeper you get into the complex the more impressive the buildings and the displays. Near the rear of the complex the garden areas and the views of the Bosporus Strait grew.

While visiting it did start to raining heavily but luckily I was undercover at the time. The rain added to the atmosphere as I watched the garden area during the storm.

Walking back to the hotel the humidity started to get to me. Maybe due to being overdressed for the weather or still not being 100% but I ate some dinner for the first time in two days which I took as a sign I’m getting better.