MeliGoesRogue

The year has been a whirlwind. I knew this wouldn’t be a year I would be able to travel. My wanderlust quietly knocking at the door begging me for a boarding pass, but I remained locked within the confines of the new home I was making, content to make the most of the walls that I now owned. But as with most of my life other plans were brewing.

On a night of pure insanity I called my travel buddy and insisted that we needed the freedom of the sky and much to my surprise she complied. The next week we booked our tickets and prayed our destination would open in time for adventure. I waited patiently refreshing the home page and then the day came….a change of direction was required.

We arrived to the airport, my wandering heart sad at the barrenness of the terminals. The plane taking me high to the sky where the air is clean and my heart can soar, and soar it did. The plane ride itself left so much to be desired, space, air and the thrill of departure. But my hope and persistence in my destination and simply the fact that I was escaping would carry me. Everyone at home locked away and me sky high.

So where do I find myself, I mean this is a travel/ soul bearing blog. Turkey…Istanbul for now to be more precise. Not a place I would have chosen for the next adventure and now as I sit at the bar of my lovely hotel I am happy and satisfied with my choice.

Most of the time when I travel I have been fortunate enough to be in countries where either English remains dominant or the countries ppl have adapted themselves to English to attend to our narcissist selves. For the first time not only am I experiencing the language barrier but also the religious one. I know I’m a beautiful woman (didn’t I just say narcissist..don’t roll your eyes at me), but the amount of staring in this country is real and it can either make you uncomfortable or increase your ego. I think you can tell mine is the latter.

It’s now at this age that I have truly gained a confidence in myself as a woman. Of course as a woman it also ebbs and flows at times contingent on my state of mind. However as per usual I digress, its time to get to my first day in Istanbul.

The day started with the curtains opening but before they could let the view in I was greeted instead by two men careeening of the building while cleaning my windows. Much needed mind you…luckily and I mean that..I was fully clothed. (Insert grinning face here lol. Tired from the long flight, time change and the loss of adrenaline required additional rest so breakfast in bed was just what the doctor ordered. Have you ever had breakfast in bed just because, allowing someone to serve you for no other reason other than because you could? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. Typically our days our full, moving around and seeing as much as possible, knowing full well all that we can get is a glimpse a reflection of the life and light within a city.

In a predominantly Muslim country it was only right that mosques be the main venture. After a very long and somewhat hot taxi ride we found ourselves at our first “Church”. I say church but the truth is I could not see the walls that held it up and the walls within were already crumbling. This is an important thing to note….we’ll be back to this topic so keep it in mind…there will be a test. We climbed the semi steep hill back from the church and began to wander, I’d like to think I knew where I was going but the truth is I didn’t and soon before our eyes a mosque appeared. We approached trepidatiously dodging stray dogs that I wanted to pet and flying pigeons that she was desperate to avoid.

We climbed the marble stairs and slowly wandered, fearful of our presence and whether it would be welcomed or cautioned. My companion approached a security guard and began to ask for directions or guidance. He quickly demonstrated our language barrier would continue, but being resourceful his phone emerged and google translate was presented to us. We were shown to the entryway and guided to remove our shoes and place a smock to cover our bodies and heads. He stood back and looked away as we complied, his respect countering the stares that had proceeded him. We entered the “Holy Place” and while awe was not what was solicited, reverence was. The bright red carpet marked only by tape demonstrating the social distance that is now plaguing us. Above a candelabra of sorts dominated the ceiling countered only by the artwork on the inside of the domes that house it. My camera securely in my bag I discreetly removed my phone and took what little I could honoring the space and its inhabitants. Sometimes, neigh most of the time even when things don’t count or matter to you they do to another and the respect that you show matters more than the belief in the custom itself. As we took our leave and removed our garments I was so pleased with the kindness that man showed us. Yes it’s his job, but that doesnt change the gratitude for his patience at our lack of language or understanding in his country.

We proceeded to the street to hopefully obtain our next taxi driver, cross our fingers he was honest and move to our next location. He quickly revealed himself and we were off to our next mosque. My Lids loves churches. I’ve never asked her why, perhaps its the architecture, or the fact that its a physical representation of God that we have, a place thats holy and pure but also welcoming of those who need it most the doors always open and the walls ready to listen and pass along your message. Do Mosques translate, does the reverence for a different belief system still hold the same weight. I don’t know the answer for her, but for me, its the reverence period.

This year but mostly these last few months have shown me how important the way we act, move and treat others speak so directly to our belief system. Yes the men stare at me when I walk, I’m choosing to believe that perhaps for some it reminds them of the weakness of their minds. Their women covered greatly so as not to elicit lustful stares. Coming from where I’m from….that’s a foreign concept. We dress purposely to elicit a response in the hopes that it will elicit desire and later love and commitment. Instead they seek to know from the inside out……as it currently seems to me (I’m trying to believe in positive intent).

We wandered the grounds, passing the tombs of the Sultans before. Several of their sarcophaguses together housed in their own eternal dome. A hundred feet away the princess ordered her own resting place to built, the power in that statement removed the sting that even in their world eternity is spent apart. I can’t tell if they feel that women are less than here or perhaps they are so special that all the places we wish to be in is not worthy of us, even a Sultana deserves her own dome.

After a barrage of photos…on the outside we walked a bit and took another taxi…dishonest unfortunately to a little cafe in the sky to replenish ourselves. After a day or honor and walking. I could talk about what happened up there where the roof retracted and the breeze from the Bosphorus washed over me but some things are left in the memories of those who were present and the ones who I FaceTimed after lol.

The day is now done, the sun has set and the moon as taken her place in the sky to stir the waves and call the breeze to play gently thru the open windows. As I finish the rest of my drink I get to look out to the sea and wonder what tomorrow will hold. Isn’t that the most exciting feeling. Turns out when I travel I somehow loose my fear for so many things. I’ll sit with that tonight and see if tomorrow will bring answers, yet funnily enough I’m ok with not knowing.