Tribute to my uncle

My dear uncle Antony died in Athens yesterday and we are heading there for the funeral. May he rest in peace. He lived a long full life and I am glad my mum had the chance to meet him ten days ago and be with him and chant Christian psalms with him for the last time.We had the chance to meet him in summer for the last time too.

My uncle like all our family was from this beautiful city, Constantinople.
As a tribute to him and all our family some photos from our trip there back in 2011.

 Holy Trinity Church

  Saint George Patriarchal Church

 Chora church

Hagia Sophia

Istanbul 3

I have not forgotten that I have not yet told you about the rest of my trip to Istanbul. So here are lots of photos from the third day.We started early again as we had lots to see and do.

I loved all the Turkish flags huge and red flying everywhere in the city.

First we went to Chora Monastery which is now a museum.

 It has fantstic frescoes and mosaics in it,very well preserved.

 Saint Paul.

 My son loved playing with this cat in the church.

 Then we went to Saint Sophia(Aghia Sophia).

 It is huge and very very beautiful but unfortunately not used as a Church anymore.

 We then went underground to Yerebatan or Basilica or Justinian cistern.Not suitable for those suffering from claustrophobia,it is a magical environment of wet surfaces,draughts and cold and water running everywhere. The lights and the music add to the atmosphere.Not to be missed.

 Two huge medusa heads are under two columns in the Cistern.

The Theodosius obelisk.

 The Blue Mosque opposite Hagia Sophia is also very very big,covered inside with blue tiles and a red carpet and it is still used as a mosque.You have to take your shoes off to see it inside.

 Outside the Blue Mosque lots of street sellers sold those spinning tops which you could find everywhere in Istanbul for just a Lira(half a Euro).They are lovely with those magnificent colours and all the kids loved playing with them everywhere.

 Opposite the Blue Mosque is also the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. We didn't visit it but I loved the label outside.

 Tulips bloomed everywhere because of the Laleli Festival the festival of tulips.

 We then went to the covered market or Grand Bazaar or Capali Carsi.The colours were fantastic.
Silk scarves....

 Lanterns and lights....

 ....and colourful pottery dishes.

We then had lunch yaurtlu and iskender kebap.

We spent the evening with Margrit and Bulent our friends.

Hagia Sophia Church calendar

Today it was much better. It wasn't raining and the flowers in the very unique pots and pans of my school looked much better.

Also a  letter arrived from my dear friend Cathy in England. She made a lovely handmade paper Xmas card for me which I am sharing here. So simple but so beautiful. I am sure I will be making something similar with my students next year with all the Xmas cards I was sent from friends around the world to recycle.

Cathy loves to quilt and she makes very intricate sewing and quilting projects. I really like that especially because I cannot sew or quilt. Some time ago I watched a lovely film about quilting named  How to make an American Quilt which was great.I even liked the stamps on Cathy's letter.One was of a Harry Potter book and the other was a very beautiful golden sticker of the Queen.

Later in the day my mum brought me a calendar from the Constantinople Union of Northern Greece where she belongs. My family and I are Greeks born in Constantinople (Istanbul) Turkey and came to Greece in 1969.My family had a great life in Constantinople before we were asked to leave Turkey as so many other Greeks. We live in beautiful Thessaloniki ever since.Anyway I just wanted to show you the calendar which depicts the fantastic mosaic of Mother of God holding baby Jesus in her lap which is in Hagia/Aghia Sophia Church in Constantinople. It was a mosaic revealed in 1934 by Thomas Whittemore.The calendar is made of weaved cloth and it is of excellent quality.It is like a real mosaic.