November 24- Taksim Square

In my mind there is a difference between Constantinople and Istanbul. The old part of the City which was fortified by the walls that held off invasions for hundreds of years until it fell in 1453 will always be Constantinople. Even during the Ottoman Empire the city was called Constantinople. The first couple of Sultans considered themselves successors to the Roman Emperors when they conquered the City but the rest of the world disagreed with them. The City was also known as "Stamboul", "Stambouli" and "Istanbul" from the Greek "Εις την Πόλιν"- "To the City." Modern Istanbul is in the area called Beyoğlu in the old Pera  (Greek for "far") district of Constantinople across the Golden Horn.


After services today I went with a couple of the people from the Patriarchate to a palced down one of the side streets for some Turkish food and ended at a Kebap place. I had my taste of some real Turkish food. It seemed a seedy street but sometimes the diamonds are defintiely in the rough. This was one of the cases. But more than anything else it was an opportunity to see some of the personnel of the Patriarchate in a more relaxed atmosphere- if you can call going out in suit and tie- relaxed.

It may be a good thing that I haven't really gone out of the Patriarchate that much because I would have gorged myself on some good food and really have put on the proverbial pounsd. There are no fitness centers in Istanbul. Some of the higher end hotels have them but evidently that West Coast phenomena has yet to hit here. Probably because they are not fighting an obesity epidemic- YET!

I say yet because once we hit the İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, we got a view of the American Invasion: Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Starbucks. I wonder if  the Turkish version of these products are full of the unhealthy carbohydrates and fats as the American Counterpart.

Taksim Square is the main center of Istanbul- hotels, restaurants, stores- You name it- It's here. The heart beat of the city is very palpable. It was exciting to be this area of town. This is definitly Modern Istanbul. This is also a clash of Turkish identity. Here is the modern Turkey- or maybe what Turkey wants to be- and on the other hand there are still women here with head scarves- the underlying Muslim religious undertone (albeit not as prevelant as in the old city). Modern Turkey was created out of the Ottoman Empire as an experiment as a secular Muslim nation. It remains to see what comes out of this experiment. Nowdays we have seen what is happening in the middle east as a result of religious dominated government which denies basic human dignity. What really remains to be seen is if Turkey can walk that secular/religious tightrope. It is a tightrope. We disparage other countries for having religion in the mix of governing but when you take a look at our government being influenced by a Western theological framework that is alien to the Orthodox mindset there is a danger to losing our own religious identity.



Sahlep


We hit a desert place where I was introduced to a hot drink called Sahlep. This would be wonderful on a cold winter's night. Its almost like drinkng liquid Rizogalo (Rice Pudding) althought I did have Sütlaç (rice Pudding along with a little ice cream along with the Sahlep. Talk about Sugar overload! But then this was a one time experience (?).

We headed back to the Patriarchate as we had to be back befoer 8:30 for the Service for Holy Communion - A service of prayers usually said before the celebration of a Liturgy. For this Liturgy the Patriarch would be not serving but presiding on the throne. I will be serving Orthros in the morning.