abouTkids
FUN AND GAMES

Istanbul By ABBY, 4th grade

Istanbul, Turkey? Why would you want to go there?” my extended family exclaimed with great earnestness. We were going to see numerous historical monuments, which was one reason. We knew hidden beauty lurked in Istanbul, and we hoped to find it. As for the historical monuments, the first would be the Blue Mosque. Following the Blue Mosque, we would visit the Grand Bazaar. Finally, we would complete our sightseeing with the Hagia Sophia. Exquisite Turkey.

After arriving in Turkey, we soon went to the Blue Mosque, which is famous for its magnificent interior. If you don’t know what a mosque is, it is a place of worship for Muslims. The rules in the Blue Mosque state that visitors have to take off their shoes and girls must wear scarves over their heads. The Blue Mosque’s real name is the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It is called the Blue Mosque because it has lovely blue and red ceramic designs inside. Ceramic tiles, which had prints of flowers and vines, covered the ceiling. Being a place of worship, it was very quiet. People were praying in remote sections of the mosque. The Blue Mosque’s sights and sounds exhibited a peaceful environment and beautiful adornment.

As we entered the Grand Bazaar, we saw tiles like the Blue Mosque, but the atmosphere was far different. The store owners attacked us to buy. They aggressively said “Hey! My shop is right there! Come in!” Their shops held musty, but beautiful rugs, junky key chains, soft pashmina scarves and much, much more. In the Grand Bazaar, words were scarcely heard because of the noise. The hustle and bustle distracted me from viewing the designs on the walls and ceiling. The Grand Bazaar hinted at the busyness and aggressiveness of Turkey.

The Hagia Sophia’s size lured us in from afar. We trudged into the morose, damp, hazy, and echoing hall. It was huge. I studied it in history and had imagined it for so long, and at last, I had come to see it. It was a church that was built in 360 AD, but in 1453 the Ottoman Turks made it into a mosque by adding four minarets around it, covering the Christian symbols, and making it look like a mosque. Mosaics, which covered the ceiling while it was a church, included pictures of crosses and Biblical scenes. The mosaics that have been successfully uncovered were beautifully made with tiny golden squares. The Hagia Sophia’s size and designs were simply awe striking.

Istanbul, Turkey, is a stirring yet elegant and altogether astounding place. The history and designs of the Blue Mosque surprised me beyond words. The Grand Bazaar’s ornate architecture, crazy atmosphere, and exciting merchandise delighted me. Finally, the Hagia Sophia’s elaborate mosaics and fabulous size made it a key place to visit. Istanbul is a tremendous place that I recommend to anyone that loves adventure, history, art, and entertainment!

The Lure of the Souqs By EMILY, 7th grade

The old and new, clean and dirty, the smells good and bad, the sounds subtle and loud, the sights bright and shadowy, delicate and bold. The textures and tastes soft, sandy, sweet, smoky. This old, mystical, grey, and somewhat scary part of town holds everything any gruesome animal, wealthy businessperson, homely wife, chairwoman, mischievous or angelic child would ever need in its overcrowded but still intricate layers of shops.

Ecstatically gaudy colors danced on the smooth, crisp fabrics with laces and beads as their partners. You can detect glittering incense everywhere creating a mystical and curious atmosphere that you can almost taste. The expensive oils glance at you sending an arrogant message of superiority. The fancy perfumes tickle your nose in a giggly manner to which you cannot resist succumbing. The vivid and fine spices are like desert sands at sunset. The radiant fruits and vegetables slyly force the mouth of every living thing present to water with glorious, sweet, juicy, and colorful sensations.

The sparkling jewelry catches the eye of one after another, coaxing its victims and enticing them in their breathtaking designs. The tailors futtle away, making certain that every single stitch is exact. You can hear their machines in rhythm with the cars and people who are bargaining, arguing, or just conversing in their daily conduct.

Every now and then, a sweet, rabid, lazy, ugly, or cute animal emerges. Donkeys and falcons, everything is in its place and out of place at the same time. Some people pluck at antique instruments while others watch in an amazed, relaxed trance. There are plants too! They are dead and alive, sweet and rancid, beautiful and unattractive to the eye. China, porcelain, silver, gold, and bronze, plates and pots, the whole world is represented at this bazaar.

You can stay there forever, eating, talking, and shopping. There is always a person to talk to, more shops to investigate, or something else to behold. Money was impossible to hold on to. It burns holes in your pockets like explosions in the cool, still night sky.

The creepy, murky, damp, continuous corridors lead to even more shops. These brilliant hideaways contain abundant belongings begging to be chosen. The objects are those that you can use each and every day and some that were more unusual, odd, peculiar, and strange to the eye. These habitually come along with an absorbing tale. There is an accumulate of items overcrowding the shops and their entryways. Everything and anything can be found at the old and new, clean and dirty Souqs.

abouTkids december 2007
abouTkids january 2008


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