Final day before our shoot in Istanbul

This morning we had some time to explore more of the city.  The morning is interesting because there is so little activity.  Everything starts to come to life after 2pm.  And by the evening it is teaming.  But in the morning, the streets are relatively empty.

We walked from Taksim Square to Galata Tower, then rode the tram back to near our hotel, and walked up the hill past the football stadium.

Later in the day we went out again, to see inside Hagia Sofia and some of the other local sites that we missed in our rush the other day.

  

    

Hagia Sophia is remarkable in that what is now a museum was previously a Mosque, and prior to that a Patriarchal Basilica.  The historical significance of the site of the great cathedral was appreciated enough that they preserved the Christian iconography even after converting the great cathedral to the great mosque.  This  is a unique and interesting juxtaposition.

After leaving the mosque, we watched a woman make a rug at a loom in a store front.  She was amazing at her craft.

  

Although we are only in Istanbul for a few days, I have seen more of it than I often see of locations when I shoot a film.  Sometimes I can be in a place for months without seeing more than my hotel room and the specific locations we shoot.  But thankfully, this shoot has provided the opportunity to see a bit more and to soak up some of the local culture and history.

To anyone who has not been to Turkey, I have to recommend it highly - and we have only just scratched the surface.  I haven't been to Sweden in the Summer, but if I were to go back on vacation, I would definitely give summer a chance. 

 

Tomorrow after our shoot, we fly to Cairo.