ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUMS

Our first task after checking out was to check in to our new hotel.  Smaller, more intimate, but completely lacking in turtles.  It did have a great roof garden, though, for breakfast and evenings in good weather. 

 From the terrace we had an excellent view of the Blue Mosque and of the Golden Horn.

 That view just never got old. 

In fact, we looked down on our Road Scholar hotel, and enjoyed a wedding almost every night. 

Before the end of our Road Scholar Tour Yesim graciously reviewed our list of sites to see on our own.  We had missed the Archaeological Museum on our last trip -- closed for renovations -- so we made it the top priority. 

The Museum is made up of three buildings.  One was archaeological finds, and even that building was half closed for renovations. 

 When they saw the camera, these guys just had to have their photo taken. 

This version of the frieze showed what the original colors were.  Ancient Turkey must have been a riot of color in every direction. 

 When I saw this I wondered if Picasso had happened by for inspiration. 

 The guidebook warned of a rather racy sarcophagus lid. 

 Finally we could see how those amphora were transported, so their shape makes more sense. 

As we left this wedding couple was approaching with various hangers-on, a case of several for taking wedding photos.

The second museum is a Museum of Islamic Art, primarily displaying tiles and pottery of various kinds.  It is a little jewel box of color and light. 

As we left...

...they were still going strong in the wedding photo department. 

 

We were off to the third museum, of the Ancient Orient.  

 

On our walk to and fro, we saw a few unusual sights.  The first confirmed that "covered women" can and do have regular jobs -- this lady was working on the renovations of the museum, wearing a hardhat over her scarf. 

 Parking police. 

 This fellow walked through our neighborhood almost every day calling out to see if anyone needed housewares.  Another fellow, who was always too quick for me, had fish and vegetables.