Istanbul: Day Three
II.II.III
ISTANBUL DAY THREE
Needless to say, everyone woke up hungover. I, for one, woke up hungover and full of regret over the kiss that never happened. And what better to shake it off is there than exploring more of what the city has to offer?
Together with Rohan, I’d be visiting the most popular landmark in Istanbul – the Hagia Sophia. Being one of the most extraordinary buildings in the world, the mosque stands at the crossroads of empires, religions, and centuries. Built in the 6th century as a Byzantine cathedral under Emperor Justinian, it was later converted into an imperial mosque after the Ottoman conquest and today functions once again as a mosque.
While the exterior of the mosque is awe-inspiring, to say the least, it was the interior that left me stupefied. Inside, the vast dome seems to float above the space, supported by massive arches and bathed in shifting light. Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy coexist on the walls, creating a layered atmosphere that mirrors the history of Istanbul itself. Stepping inside the mosque felt like nothing short of a privilege.
With it being a slow day, we had nothing else planned. In fact, after our visit, we went back to the hotel to rest up for a bit.
We only went out again for dinner. And lemme tell ya, this particular dinner was a highlight in its own right. We went to a place called Al Madina Restaurant – a popular Middle Eastern spot known for generous portions and bold, comforting flavours. But that wasn’t the real reason we were there. Its interior is plastered with framed photos of famous visitors who’ve eaten there over the years – footballers, actors, musicians, politicians, and public figures from across the Middle East and beyond. It was purely for this that Akash wanted to take us there. His intention? To have Priya’s face immortalised on that wall for posterity.
And did he manage? Hell yeah he did. In fact, not only did Priya’s face end up on the wall, but we also got a free, massive three-course meal out of it. And the main dish? Oh boy. We were served a huge salt-baked chicken – a dramatic dish where a whole chicken is completely encased in a thick crust of coarse salt before being baked. As it cooks, the salt forms a hard shell that seals in moisture, essentially steaming the meat inside and keeping it incredibly tender and juicy. It was still encased in salt and lit up on fire when it arrived on our table – with Priya having to break it free and make the first cut.
We ate, drank, and danced to our hearts’ content – truly an indelible memory that I’ll cherish forever.
