More rambling about Istanbul
Oct. 7th, 2015 10:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridloreThe more I look into places to see and things to do on the Istanbul trip, the more I find that gets added to the list. Just doing the research is exciting me beyond any reasonable level.
For example, one of the things I really want to see is the Theodosian Walls. The 5th-century city walls built by Emperor Theodosius II stretch for 6.5 km (4 miles) from Istanbul's Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara. These walls were legendary in their time, and only breached twice in the city's long history. So few city walls remain, seeing them with restored gates and guard towers was obviously high on my list.
But then I learned that one of the best places to view the walls was very close to the Kariye Museum, originally built in the 4th century as the 'Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls' or 'in the Country' (chora), it was indeed outside the walls built by Constantine the Great. However, less than a century later, the new city walls placed the church solidly inside the city. Of course, nobody bothered calling it anything different. The current building and mosaics date from the 11-12th centuries.
Best part? There's an established tour that hits these two sites as well as other great stops.
But we can't do any of it without help. We are still fundraising, and as a reminder,kshandra's employers at EarthBaby are matching each donation dollar for dollar up to $4,000 through Thanksgiving.
Please think about a donation to our dream trip. And please, please boost the signal. If we can get 200 people to give just $40 each we hit our goal with room to spare! 80 people donating $100 breaks the ceiling. Of course, if somebody just wants to toss five grand at us, we would not complain.
Thank you for any support you can give.
For example, one of the things I really want to see is the Theodosian Walls. The 5th-century city walls built by Emperor Theodosius II stretch for 6.5 km (4 miles) from Istanbul's Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara. These walls were legendary in their time, and only breached twice in the city's long history. So few city walls remain, seeing them with restored gates and guard towers was obviously high on my list.
But then I learned that one of the best places to view the walls was very close to the Kariye Museum, originally built in the 4th century as the 'Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls' or 'in the Country' (chora), it was indeed outside the walls built by Constantine the Great. However, less than a century later, the new city walls placed the church solidly inside the city. Of course, nobody bothered calling it anything different. The current building and mosaics date from the 11-12th centuries.
Best part? There's an established tour that hits these two sites as well as other great stops.
But we can't do any of it without help. We are still fundraising, and as a reminder,
kshandra's employers at EarthBaby are matching each donation dollar for dollar up to $4,000 through Thanksgiving. Please think about a donation to our dream trip. And please, please boost the signal. If we can get 200 people to give just $40 each we hit our goal with room to spare! 80 people donating $100 breaks the ceiling. Of course, if somebody just wants to toss five grand at us, we would not complain.
Thank you for any support you can give.
