Istanbul-Europe

Modesty dressed and ready for Islamic Turkey.

Istanbul has a population of almost 21 million people and the 3rd or 4th largest Airport in the world.

Some pics in airport.

Interestingly,  sections of this exotic city falls into two separate Continents, Europe and Asia.

The European section is larger, with around two thirds of the population living in  that huge, bustling city.

Huge crowds in the Grand Bazaar.

The European side also attracts the vast majority of visitors, so traffic jams are the order of the day.

Incidentally, we paid around twenty Euros more from the airport to the city, than when we were returning. The explanation for this anomaly was that airport taxis use toll roads while regular ones don't. 

I don't believe tolls make such a big difference though!😡

To tell the truth, I can't see why so few people travel to the Asian side, as while there may not be as much to see over there, I find it calmer and the food is just as good.

On the ferry, heading to the Asian side.

 The bridge joining both sides is visible behind me.

And talking about food, the Turks treat their stray dogs and cats as well as the Greek do, so you don't see any mangey, skinny animals in either country, as all are friendly and well fed.

This cat had dinner with me.

 There is no difference with how people are treated on either side of Istanbul (whether Europe or Asia) for all are Turks, regardless of where they were born or live.

(I have a separate blog on the Asian side at :https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2024/04/istanbul-asia.html?m=1.)

 Below are pictorial memories of the European side.

They seem to be very patriotic, as huge flags are on buildings all over the city.

We melted in with the crowd😁

Whoever is delivering the 'message ' in the mosque each day, stands atop the stairs 

Mosques galore all over the city. Loud recordings from the tower remind Muslims of their prayer times. 

 It's 5 times per day.

Everything under the sun is available at the Grand Bazaar.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised that things are not as restrictive in Istanbul as the western media implies about Muslim countries.

Women pray behind this partition

In Istanbul women are active in every profession from the army, police, taxi drivers immigration, everywhere, and they don't have to be modestly dressed or covered from head to toe, unless they wish to or are attending prayers. 

So I saw lots of women roaming around skimpily dressed. No problem at all.

The Sultan who built the famous Blue Mosque and his family are buried in this special area next door.

Hot, freshly roasted corn is very popular there.

A favorite of mine😊.

The guys selling ice cream cones made it into an hilarious ritual🤣

Everyone entered the Grand Bazaar here. I guess giris is Greek for entry . We thought it was girls and wondered why men were entering through that side.😁

Check this blog for further info.

https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2024/04/proud-of-turkish-women.html?m=1

MY TERRIBLE DIET

I am not moaning about my diet because I don't eat green vegetables and it has affected my health somehow.

No, I don't and it hasn't.

This rejection of vegetables was born from I was a child and we fed the greens to the animals then ate them. 

Processed greens you could call it.

However, I have for many years, occasionally rued the fact that it cannot be civilized to be eating warm-blooded animals. 

This thought was again recently reinforced when I visited a livestock farm in St. Elizabeth.  For there was a herd of some of the most peaceful group of cows I have ever seen, tranquility roaming as they fed. Then and there I felt so bad about constantly eating members of their family that once again I made a silent promise to myself to stop eating beef. 

I think that latest promise only survived for a few days.

Maybe it is my admiration for the Buddist religion that so often directs my thoughts along these lines. For they are totally opposed to killing anything to satisfy the lust for food. But poor me, my habits are so deeply ingrained that I cannot even contemplate adopting such an admirable lifestyle.  So I comfort myself that I will keep that promise when I reincarnate.

I have often varied it slightly by saying I will shun warm-blooded animals, as in this life I have no problem eating reptiles with great relish, convinced of course that if I don't eat them first they will probably eat me! That's why I so enjoyed the crocodile tail I had in Cambodia.

But no Buddhist would ever kill even reptiles so I guess I will have to adopt the Kenyan philosophy that dictates that even dangerous animals have to preserved for prosperity, especially to educate generations to come.

I only returned to this annoying trend of thought this morning, for as I went for my regular walk, I was bitten by an insect. I don't know what it was but it itched like hell and for quite a long time too.

That's when it occurred to me that those who are promoting the eating of insects are on the right track. For what purpose do most insects serve except to create destruction and discomfort for the human race?

Further, in Asia, they have developed the tastiest methods of cooking these pests and they are also very nutritious to boot. 

Look at what Science Direct says;

"From a nutritional point of view, insects have significant protein content. It varies from 20 to 76% of dry matter depending on the type and development stage of the insect. Fat content variability is large (2–50% of dry matter) and depends on many factors. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids' content may be up to 70% of total fatty acids. Carbohydrates are represented mainly by chitin, whose content ranges between 2.7 mg and 49.8 mg per kg of fresh matter. Some species of edible insects contain a reasonable amount of minerals (K, Na, Ca, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and P) as well as vitamins such as B group vitamins, vitamins A, D, E, K, and C. "

So weh yu seh?

Unfortunately, I am so old and stuck in my ways, that I have to postpone my nutritional transition until the next life!

169) Joan Williams, author - YouTube