Turkey afternoon, day 1

A visit to the blue mosque.

From afar you can see the minarets and goldleaf spires that rise high above all else. We wandered around the outside for a bit to take pictures and then were taken to the inside. We went to the side of the building where visitors enter. Here we had to take our shoes off and we each carried them in plastic bags (provided for all like in a produce section of a grocery store). We walked, barefooted, into the mosque.

We were free to take pictures, talk quietly, watch the men go through their prayer ritual in the middle area (and the ladies in the back area).

It's called the blue mosque just because of the massive amount of blue tiling inside. It is a lovely building inside (although electrical wires, etc. have to be on the exterior of everything so that detracts from its overall beauty.

The women were interesting. We saw ladies in total black clothing, nothing but their eyes showing, and ladies nicely covered but in very bright pinks and oranges too. Mostly women just cover their head and make sure they are modestly dressed (arms and knees covered).

We are here during Ramadan so there are extra people and activities around the perimeter of the mosque. Many stalls with books to sell, and some food stalls.Lots of people relaxing and visiting.

Some of us wore a scarf on our head, some didn't. They seem to accept visitors and allow them some leeway - although they did hand out scarves to ladies who were bare shouldered.

That was my first time ever to be in a mosque.