The NESA Conference:
The
conference itself was located in the Polat Renassance, a beautiful five-star
hotel just four kilometers from the airport (picture courtesy of Renaissance
hotels, http://www.RenaissanceHotels.com). The first two days of the conference
were devoted to outside speakers who presented research on a wide range
of topics. It was also a chance to catch up with
people from other schools we had met at other school events, and also some
of Tracy's chums from Jakarta days. In addition to presentations, the Conference
featured an Arabian nights style gala, and a Sunday performance by the
Sufi "whirling dervishes." On the third day of the conference, we were
bussed to Robert College for the teacher presentations. Tracy's presentation,
"You and your students...On Stage: Theater Games in a classroom setting"
introduced teachers to a number of hands on activities that can be used
in a wide variety of disciplines. The picture at the right shows two teachers,
Dr. Maritza Crespofrom
ACS Beirut and Willi Clemens from Doha, playing "Park Bench." Dale's
presentation was a bit less lively, but hands on in a different way. "Technology,
Curriculum Design and the Block Schedule" tried to demonstrate how computers
can be used to enhance teaching in the longer block periods, as well as
practical steps to integrate technology into your teaching. Both presentations
seemed to be well received.
The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Camii:
We
set aside one day for touring and headed north to the Golden Horn, the
area where the Marmara sea narrows into the Bosporus straits, and the main
bridge between the Asian and European halves of the city. It is home to
many of Istanbul's treasures. The first sight we took in was the Sultan
Ahmet Camii or Blue Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1619, its exterior is
a contrast of cascading domes graced by six very slender minarets. Its
interior, as the name suggests, is decorated by blue tiles and a blue dome,
giving it a luminous appearance. Unfortunately, we did not get to see this
part, as it was prayer time! However, the courtyard with its ablutions
fountain in the center and the surrounding Iwan or meeting halls (pictured
to the left and right here) were both very reminiscent of the Omayaad Mosque
in Damascus.
The Splendor of the Hagia Sofia or Aya Sofya:
The
Hagia Sofia was an architectural marvel I was eager to see, both as a teacher
of Western Civilization (it was built under the direction of the emperor
when the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to then Constantinople)
and also as a teacher of the history and culture of Islam (under
the Ottomans it was converted into perhaps the grandest mosque outside
of the Middle East). While we were a bit disappointed that a considerable
part of the interior was hidden by scaffolding, it was a rewarding experience
to finally see this landmark in person. My personal impression of the structure
is that it was constructed as a Roman church and decorated as a mosque.
From the exterior photo one can detect the flying buttresses between the
church and minarets. Indeed, the Interior is laid out with barrel vaulted
ceilings in a traditional cross shape. The front of the church, the apse, is
now an area of secondary importance. One can still see where the cross
was removed. The centerpiece of the sanctuary is the now the wall which
faces Mecca. On this wall one can see the mihrab, the niche in the wall
indicating the direction of Mecca (to the left), which is constructed at
an angle for accuracy. On the other side of the wall is the minbar (right)
where the imam gives the Friday sermon. No Friday sermons for us, however,
as the mosque was converted into a museum in the 1930's by Mastiff Kemal
Attaturk, who wisely permitted the beautiful mosaics that decorate the
rather dark interior to be uncovered, restoring a great deal of its former
beauty. Just a few meters in front of the minbar was the spot where the
Roman emperors were coronated.
Sulieman Mosque or Beyzit Camii:
The final stop in our "mosques on parade" tour was the
Sulieman mosque, created
for the 16th century ruler by his most accomplished architect, Sinan. [Exterior
photo courtesy of www.ExploreTurkey. com--my exterior shot did not turnout]
To my mind, this was the most beautiful of the three mosques that we saw.The
first picture (to the right) shows the central part of the sanctuary. Unlike
the Hagia Sofia, the mihrab and minbar occupy center stage. The mosque
is a graceful series of arches, decorated in alternating natural stone
and red stripes. As the picture at the left shows, one series of arches
constitutes the basic exterior walls of the mosque, while a secondary upper
level provides the support for the magnificent dome. The entire mosque
is lit by a series of chandeliers that descend from the top of the building,
as shown in the photo of the dome (right). This mosque looks very much
like the one in which Denzel Washington prays in the film Malcolm X.
The Grand Bazaar:
Midway
between the Hagia Sofia and the Suleymaniye Mosques lies the huge covered
Grand Bazaar, where you can find nearly anything your heart desires. In
the photo at the left Tracy,
who has undoubtedly read one too many Where's Waldo? books, beckons
us toward the bazaar. The bazaar itself is divided into various sections--gold
and silver souks, silks and scarves, clothes, leather goods, housewares,
etc. The picture to the right captures the spirit of the bazaar experience--wall
to wall stuff! Tracy found a beautiful gold bracelet of the sort she searched
for in vain in Damascus and Aleppo. Following this, we shopped for presents
for friends and family. It was fun, and a unique way to meet every person
in Istanbul whose uncle owned a carpet store!
What is a Trip without FOOD? Hassan's Fish House:
Turkey
is the affordable diner's paradise. Lamb and kebab dishes predominated.
In some ways it was similar to Lebanese cuisine, in that there was usually
a round of mezze, followed by aseries
of fish and meat dishes for the main course. Desserts, of course, were
wonderful, especially Kunufe(?), fried vermicelli noodles topped with a
sweet cheese and smothered in a sugary syrup. Of all the places we dined
however, our favorite was probably Hassan's, a fish house located in a
nearby marina. And I mean fish house--they provide some hot bread, a plain
salad, and then you go over to where the fish are on display and pick out
the dishes of your choice, as Tracy is doing in the photo to your left.
We dined on calamari, gigantic shrimp, sea bass, and swordfish, which our
waiter is prominently displaying in the photo to the left. A memorable
meal, all in all
The
conference itself was located in the Polat Renassance, a beautiful five-star
hotel just four kilometers from the airport (picture courtesy of Renaissance
hotels, http://www.RenaissanceHotels.com). The first two days of the conference
were devoted to outside speakers who presented research on a wide range
of topics. It was also a chance to catch up 
with
people from other schools we had met at other school events, and also some
of Tracy's chums from Jakarta days. In addition to presentations, the Conference
featured an Arabian nights style gala, and a Sunday performance by the
Sufi "whirling dervishes." On the third day of the conference, we were
bussed to Robert College for the teacher presentations. Tracy's presentation,
"You and your students...On Stage: Theater Games in a classroom setting"
introduced teachers to a number of hands on activities that can be used
in a wide variety of disciplines. The picture at the right shows two teachers,
Dr. Maritza Crespo
from
ACS Beirut and Willi Clemens from Doha, playing "Park Bench." Dale's
presentation was a bit less lively, but hands on in a different way. "Technology,
Curriculum Design and the Block Schedule" tried to demonstrate how computers
can be used to enhance teaching in the longer block periods, as well as
practical steps to integrate technology into your teaching. Both presentations
seemed to be well received.
