Iftar in Istanbul Part 2 - Sultan Ahmet (Blue Mosque) Area

First and foremost, I would like to wish all Muslims in the world....Happy Eid Fitr and  Iyi Bayramlar. Today marked the end of the Ramadhan (Ramazan) and muslims all over the world celebrate their victory, jubilation and / or gratitude in many ways. 

While the Arab 'spring' or 'uprising' were just happy to celebrate their freedom.... muslims in other parts of the world, seized the opportunity to meet up with family members and visiting friends and other loved ones. Thats is...except for yours truly.....oh well, I'm not complaining...I feel rejuvenated, lighter and cleansed after a month of fasting and thats jubilation enough for me.

In Turkey, Seker (Sweets)  Bayram or Ramazan Bayram is celebrated in a quiet and low key style. Basically, the children will go round the neighbors houses and they'll be given sweets (seker), hence its called seker Bayram. Apart from that, they will also go visiting families, relatives and friends. The morning part are normally very quiet, even the mosques are conspicuously quiet. 

By evening, the noise will start to return, topped by the 'drummer'. You see, during Ramazan, these drummers would go around the neighborhood to wake people up for their 'sahor' or 'very early breakfast'. An hour before the Imsak (time to stop eating), the drummer will go around beating the drum to wake people up. I find this refreshing and not annoying at all, as normally complained by the locals. 

So, on Bayram, these drummers will go around the neighborhood again to collect their 'fees'. Of course, its a token of appreciation but they have to be paid nonetheless! And of course..there are the occasional fireworks to make then day even more exciting! What is a celebration without fireworks, eh?

Anyway...as promised, I have here photos taken at the Sultan Ahmet area, two days before Bayram, albeit a late one! The place was jam-packed, we could not managed to get a parking a week before and this time..we  just tried our luck by going again.

Its quite a plain do..but i was told that the town council had set up tents elsewhere for the public (especially the less fortunate) to have their Iftar for free. Its a huge white rectangular tent with a sit down facillities and everybody is welcomed to break their fast there. I don't have the photo as i didn't go to the right place, so...maybe next time.

While you enjoy your Seker Bayram or Eid-Fitr....I'll be up in the blue sky! Shh...I'm on my way to Down Under for my first-born's convocation.......so....this Bayram is also a sweet victory and jubilation for me!!!! 

All ready for the Iftar tho' it being a tourist area, not everybody here is fasting... 

they may have been without food or drinks for the last 15 hours, but they don't seem to mind....or affected by it physically

rabbits to tell your fortune ? the rabbits are supposed to pick up the colored papers for your fortune to be read....hmm...do they know that rabbit meats can be made into satay.....yum yum !! you know the saying, when you're hungry......., anything goes....

he's part of the tourist attraction, period costume from the Ottoman era, the different headgear  will be an indication of your status and power in the palace or to the government...

in the beginning, there were 7 of these busses....waiting.....the last i checked, there were 3 left...

the mausoleum of the Ottoman Sultans and their children and families....right next to the Blue Mosque.. 

the entrance to the Ramazan Bazaar.....

what's left of the Hippodrome....these Arab scripture was brought here by the Romans....

frankly....I can't make up what he's made up for...but i guess he was supposed to represent the old palace guard

tursu (pickles) of every imaginable vegetables and fruits.....

an advertisement to tell people that their dondurma (ice-cream) is made of goat's milk...

yes....concerts and shows are BIG during Ramazan....its set up almost everywhere....

an hour before Iftar....and everybody have taken up their spot for the Iftar and picnic of the day...the only thing missing is...the MANGA (BBQ) ...which is understandably....is prohibited !!

have you got your spot, yet?

how much nicer can it be? Iftar right in front of Agia Sophia....

or...Iftar, right in front of the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)....pick your choice....

everybody have taken their spots on the bench....

Gozleme...a thin pancake type of bread with filling of cheese, spinach or yogurt..hot from the stove !

or...Iftar in front the Blue Mosque...on the green lawn....

Ahh.....picture perfect......

beautiful sail yatch......is it really a sail yatch..or just for the fun of it? the sail looks too small to be of any use, though...

and there were two of them, so i guess the other one must be Club Med 1.....beautiful...

can you see the big cruise liner in the background...lurking between the buildings? well...there have been bigger cruise liners !

our Bayram meal was a French & Thai Fusion, courtesy of Thierry.......Iyi Bayramlar........