The Blue Mosque

Our final big ticket sight of the week was the Blue Mosque (or Sultan Ahmet Mosque). It was beautiful and detailed, much like Topkapı Palace. When you enter, you must remove your shoes and women must cover their hair. It was so peaceful, as everyone is asked to remain quiet. The only place that visitors may be is a section in the back of the Mosque because it is still actively used for prayer. 

This was the part of the Mosque dedicated to prayer, prohibited to visitors. You can see the stained glass windows on the opposite walls. They were as beautiful as any you'd find in a Church or Cathedral. One of the aspects that I loved most about the Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque is the lighting. It's all about average ceiling height, and usually takes the form of tons of little glass lanterns. It's beautiful. 

Here I am - covered hair, awkward woman in the background... You can see all the detail on the walls in this photo and those above. 

Here is where the women pray. Behind a caned wall, separated from the beauty of the Mosque. In case you were wondering, I'm working hard to keep my mouth shut...

Although not as breathtaking as the Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque was a beautiful sight. Before visiting, I wasn't aware that it was still a functioning Mosque. Especially as the building is used almost constantly and at all times of the day for prayer and practice, it is so generous of the Muslim community in Sultanahmet to share such a gem.