Mosques and Minarets

Driving in from Istanbul airport, from the highway we could pick out the mosques nestled among the red-roofed houses. With their minaret towers, two spokes pointing up towards the heavens, they stood out amongst the three or four-story houses surrounding them.

When I pointed out to one of the teachers chaperoning our group that it was odd to see mosques spaced out at such close intervals, he replied, well, think about back in Lyon: we have churches every where, spread out at the same distance, we just never notice it because we're in the midst of it.

But really! these minarets are terrific. Apparently the grand Blue Mosque over in the old quarter of Istanbul (Sultanahmet area), which we will visit on Friday afternoon, has not two, but six such minarets. Can't wait to be overwhelmed!


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LINKS:


Minarets (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minaret


Mosques (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosques