Turkish ornaments

I'm not very sure where that ornament comes from but it doesnt matter- it's lovely! It's actually a birthday card for me that came from Turkey :) 

Link between Asia and Europe

 Postcard recived thanks to attending RR group :) It looks way better in real!

The history of the Bosphorus Bridge is long and rich, an idea that first surfaced around 500 BC, when the Persian Emperor Darius had a pontoon bridge built so he could chase fleeing Scythians. Another pontoon bridge was built across the Dardenelles, or Hellespont, (the strait to the south of the city and the Sea of Marmara) in 480 BC. This was the bridge built by the Persian Xerxes to invade the forces of Greece and Sparta—a battle immortalized in the award-winning 2006 film, 300 These historical bridges were temporary, and no other bridge was built until the First Bridge in Istanbul Turkey was built in 1973. Until that time, all transportation across the strait was done by ferries, which today still are a major transportation link and are popular for sightseeing tours and Bosphorus river cruises.

The modern history of the Bosphorus Bridge began in 1900, when the Bosphorus Railway Company drew up plans that included a rail link between the two continents. A decision to actually build the structure was not made until 1957, by which time Turkey had become an independent republic. Construction began in 1970, and the bridge was completed a day after (October 30) the 50th anniversary of independence. The British engineering firm that designed it also designed several other famous bridges, including the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand, the Humber Bridge in England, and the Volta River Bridge in West Africa.The First Bridge in Istanbul Turkey is located closest to the Sea of Marmara, and enters Europe not far from the Galeta Kulesi Tower, the gateway to attractions of the Old City, including Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Since this is the route used by most tourists and the majority of business, it can be quite congested. Virtually all visitors to the city will cross over or sail under this picturesque bridge in Istanbul Turkey during their vacations. It is a beautiful sight during the day with the sublime minarets and domes of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia in the background. At night the bridge is lit by computerized LED lights with changing patterns and colors. One of the special events in the city is the Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon held in October, one of the few times that pedestrians are allowed to cross the bridge. Many bring picnics and enjoy a day on the bridge.

Whriling dervish

This postcard arrived to me from Turkey. Arzu sent it to thank me for my little help. I'm really glad because of the postcard- I've always wanted to see Whirling Dervishes! I like postcards showing traditions and cultures from different countries.

The members of the Mevlevi Order are known in the world as Whirling Dervishes. The Mevlevi sect belongs to the Sunni or orthodox mainstream of Islam. Its doctrine never developed a revolutionary strategy - and although it was occasionally criticized for its heretical ideas, it always enjoyed the respect of the officialdom.

The rituals of the Whirling Dervishes are among the enduring as well as the most exquisite ceremonies of spirituality. The ritual whirling of the dervishes is an act of love and a drama of faith. It possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual dervishes strive to achieve a state of trans. The music that accompanies the whirling from beginning to end ranges from somber to rhapsodical; its effect is intended to be mesmerizing. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a synthesis which, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, of ecstasy, of mystical flight. Information provided by www.allaboutturkey.com