Topkapi Palace

We spent the majority of the day in the grounds of the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans. Now a museum, the structures and courtyards are extravagant. We went through the harem (in Turkey this refers to a residence) which was largely decorated with the blue tilework so prevalent here. Then saw beards cut off in golden boxes, an arm and a skull of some prophets. The pavillions overlook the Bosphorous and Sea of Marmara towards the Asian side of Istanbul. The Treasury rooms were full of extravagantly and intricately decorated swords, pendants, armor, thrones and loot from conquests in Iran, India, and China. Of course the items were of gold and other valuable metals decorated often with emeralds, red rubies, mother-of-pearl and diamonds. Sometimes jade. The sultans lived every detail of life as an expression of their wealth and power in unimaginable extravagance. There were even gold and diamond coffee cup holders, gold and precious gem encrusted water jugs, a gold and gem-plated cradle for little princes, and the 5th largest diamond in the world. This 86 carat diamond surrounded by over 40 brilliant cut diamonds was once a ring and then a pendant for a turban. The legend says that the center diamond was found in a rubbish heap by a peddlar, sold for 3 spoons, discovered to be diamond, and bought. Too bad for the peddlar. As we exited the last room of the Treasury, the alarm sounded. Fortunately we avoided capture by moving quickly and stealthily through the crowds of people pulling off our disguises only when were out of the palace. Maybe we'll give it to the first street peddler we see.