Turkey Part 3 - Istanbul April 1

After all of our early mornings, late nights, and walking around Cappadocia and Istanbul for the previous 4 days, we had a well deserved relaxation day.  We did not set our alarms or request a wake-up call, so we slept until 9 and had a leisurely breakfast before returning to the room to casually get ready for our day.

The first thing on our agenda was to experience a Turkish bath and during our wanderings the first few days in Istanbul we found one that we liked.  It was a private bath, so we would not be sitting naked with complete strangers.  I would have done it if Vanny wanted to, but I was secretly glad that she didn't feel comfortable with that idea!  So, we paid the extra money for a private one and it was well worth it.  Vanny was able to get the full experience, while I had a modified one due to my ribs.  I got what they usually give pregnant women who can't lay on their stomachs!

The Turkish bath started with us changing into a towel to go into the sauna and steam room before our scrubbing.  After the scrub, we were covered  in foam for a massage.  Vanny got both sides done, while I only got my front done.  Then we sat in the jacuzzi before our next massage and facial.  I am not a huge fan of massages, they usually hurt too much, but this one was really gentle and relaxing.  The facial was wonderful.  We walked out of the spa feeling refreshed, energized, and silky smooth!  If we had more time and more money we would have made another appointment!

Feeling refreshed we walked around looking for a restaurant that had been recommended to us by a local. We could not find it, but we did find another local restaurant that we felt like we should try.  We had the "world famous" Anatolian ravioli along with some feta pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice.  Everything was expertly made, we even watched the woman make our pancakes, and extremely tasty.

Relaxed and well fed, we returned to the hotel to get directions to the theater for the Whirling Dervish show. We were told to take the train two stops past the Blue Mosque and then ask for directions; so that is what we did.  Once we got off the train we asked a local for directions to the theater; he was unable to help us, but he quickly found someone who could and he ended up walking with us to the theater.  The theater is very small, it seats only about 100 people, but it is very quaint and traditional.  We were given a program with a description of the show and shown to our seats, which were in the second row, just before the show started.  The show started with some local musicians playing traditional Turkish music and after they finished the Whirling Dervish show began.

The Whirling Dervishes are from a sect of Islam known as the Mevlevi Order.  The order is defined by "sufism" which is "a means by which a person makes  his personality free from bad habits, cleanses his soul, and attains maturity with his love for God."  The men performing this ceremony rid themselves of bad habits, cleanse their souls, and reach maturity with God by, and through, whirling.  The ceremony lasts for about 1/2 an hour, in which they are constantly whirling around their own axis and around a central axis (like the planets revolve around themselves and the sun).  The spin with one hand facing upwards and one hand facing downwards to symbolize that what they get from God they give to others.  The ceremony ends with a reading of the Quran and a prayer for the souls of all prophets and the salvation of their country.

We were amazed by their devotion and dedication and impressed with their continuous whirling.  They never once looked tired, and they never once faltered in their rotations around the central point.  It was absolutely impressive.

We left the theater in silence and headed to the nearest train station to return to our hotel for our early morning departure to Ephesus.