Istanbul, the eternal mystery
Like Salome in her dance of the seven veils, Istanbul reveals herself slowly, layer by layer by shimmering layer. Clever but coy, she weaves a spell of music, movement and mystery around her mesmerized audience. Over the centurires, she has been courted by many but won by few. Her dance has dazzled some of the greatest men in history: Justinian Constantine and Mehmet the Conqueror, who all made her the queen of their empires. With each marriage, her name changed from Byzantium, to Constantinople to Istanbul.
Istanbul has always been a stunning beauty: from head to toe, her curvaceous shores are lined with grand palaces and villas; her seven hills are dressed in green parks and red roofs; her accessories are glittering domes and minarets. But her main attraction has to be her dowry: the waters of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
July 5, 2008 (Sat): Dolmabahce Palace coastal run
View Larger Map
Easy 10k run. Started fom Ceylan InterContinental hotel at Taksim Square down steep descent to Inonu Stadium and the Dohmabache (Bezm-l Aem) Mosque. Headed northeast up Dolmabahce Cad, passing the Dolmabahce Palace and a number of quays.
Dolmabahce Palace was where Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic stayed while in Istanbul. He died in the palace on Nov 10, 1938. Clocks throughout the palace are permanently stopped at five past nine, the time of his death.
The water front is where the Bosphorus divides the two continents that Turkey spans – Europe and Asia. I was on the European shore.
Bosphorus is Istanbul’s lifeblood and one of the most strategic straits in the world as well as one of the most beautiful. It connects the Black Sea to Marmara.
There were a bunch of uniformed security folks along this stretch. This was probably due to some important dignitaries or function at the Ciragan Palace Kiminski Istanbul or the Four Seasons Hotels. Or it could be due to the court case. After the busy junction, came to the Radisson Bosphorus SAS Hotel before reaching the market place at Ortakoy Mecidiye Mosque. Many of the market vendors were just opening their street stalls. The Ortakoy neighborhood is a charming dining and entertainment enclave, as I found out that evening enroute for a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus.
Took a U-turn right after going past the Bogazici Bridge, the first of two magnificent bridges that span the Bosphurus. Return leg was much faster, as I didn’t stop to take pictures as often. Up the inevitable incline to Ritz Carlton (250m elevation over 1k), before heading back to the InterContinental.
Ave pace: 7:32
Sunny and mild weather (about 25 C), slight breeze.
73.1 kg (post run)
No comments:
Post a Comment