Back at the Sultan Pub after a large and inexpensive lunch. I saw several of the tourist sites in Istanbul over the last two days. Nothing too exciting, the Blue Mosque was incredible, but the Topkapi Palace was disappointing. The "treasure" room was something: emeralds, diamonds (one 85 ct.), ming vases, gold, etc...
I had a nice tour of the Blue Mosque, apparently the center of some excitement on Friday. Otherwise not much notice of the U.S./Afgani problems, the Turks I imagine are busy leading their lives. Our tour guide gave us an interesting perspective on some of the Islamic fundamentalist problems in Turkey. She seems to be a progressive Islamic woman or at the very least a traditionalist (if there is such a thing). She discussed the use of head scarves and some of the sources for the fundamentalist views, misconceptions, etc. While I'm sure her pro-republic attitude collides with many of the Islamic ideals, she discussed the Koran and the alternative translations over the years. Recent more historically accurate interpretations have shown Mohammed was accepting and inclusive to women and very "flexible" as opposed to the strict cover-yourself-head-to-toe, anti-establishment attitudes some are following. It seems some may have fallen into the trap... Mohammed seems to have advocated "do as I say, not as I do". Many fundamentalist focus in on how he lived his life and have mistakenly taken an idolic approach which flies in the face of the way Mohammed truly prophesized. This is how I understand what our tour guide said and what I have interpolated from my own understanding of Islam.
Although Turkey (the republic) is a mere 79 years old, it is trying to prove itself in the western world where many of us still envision camels, sultans, and harem life (dang! on the last one).
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