One evening, at sunset, we went to the park between Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. We watched the night architectural lights come on at both buildings as the sun set and the evening call to prayer came from three different minarets. Carpet shop owners complained about the lack of business as they tried to get us to visit for a cup of tea. (More Turks drink tea than the famous “Turkish coffee.”) After the third attempt to get us into a shop I said “I would just like to spend an evening with my wife before I go to Tbilisi.” The merchant wished us a good evening and left. Suzi and I enjoyed an outdoor café which was having a sale on wine. In this Moslem country it is the foreigners who drink wine and the cafe was overstocked because of a lack of business.
