R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 17

Fun Photo Friday —Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Favorites 1

Ursula Checking Off Another Bucket List Item

Today I present the first of three Fun Photo Fridays featuring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as the first of six highlighting architectural wonders in Abu Dhabi:

For additional information on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque see:

● Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
● Mosques
● Domes
● Minarets
● Prayer halls
● Islamic architecture
● Abu Dhabi
● United Arab Emerates
● Arabian Peninsula
● Middle East

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Abu Dhabi — Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Part 2

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque complex entrance (right)

Today I’m going to take you into the courtyard of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque complex. Here you’ll get a glimpse of just some of the many reasons why this immense undertaking took some eleven years to complete. You’ll also get a sense of the meticulous detail that went into the design and decoration of this magnificent example of Islamic architecture. I’m also going to do something I’ve not done in a while. As there is so much to learn abou...

Abu Dhabi — Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Part 1

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emerates

Ursula and I left beautiful, cosmpolitan Istanbul, Turkey on 23 April 2024 and flew to our next destination. This next stop would take us deep into the Middle East, deposit us onto the Arabian Peninsula, and situate us into the United Arab Emerates. Specifically, we were now in the capital city of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the second largest city in the UAE and here Ursula was keen on visiting two particular sites — the ...

Fun Photo Friday — Topkapi Favorites 3

Topkapi Palace

Today’ Fun Photo Friday concludes our April visit to Istanbul, one of our favorite cities. Beginning next week it’s on to our next destination — Abu Dhabi.

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Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Architectural Details and Opulent Interiors

Imperial Hall — Sultan’s Throne (center)

Over the past several weeks I’ve taken you on an indepth tour of Topkapi Palace. By now I hope you’ve gained an appreciation for this Ottoman wonder, and that you don’t miss it on your visit to Istanbul. Indeed, we missed it on all over our prevous visits, so I’m glad we didn’t repeat that mistake this time. Since you’ve been treated to the various exhibits available here, today I’m just going to shut up and present some photographs of the architectura...

Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Antique Firearms etc.

Topkapi Palace dueling pistols

I recently showed you the jewels contained within the Imperial Treasury in the Third Courtyard at Topkapi Palace. When one thinks of the Imperial Treasury, this is the location that comes to mind for most people. There is, however, another Imperial Treasury, but this one doesn’t house jewels. This Imperial Treasury is located in the Second Courtyard, along with the kitchens (see: Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Entering the Grounds) and the and it is home to a very ...

Fun Photo Friday — Topkapi Favorites 2

Hagia Irene — Eastern Orthodox church located on the Topkapi grounds

Welcome to another Fun Photo Friday, this time featuring favorites from Topkapi Palace. Above is Hagia Irene, an Eastern Orthodox church in the outer courtyard of the Topkapi Palace. Now on to today’s photo gallery/slide show:

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Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Religious Artifacts Part 2

Depiction of caligraphers creating copies of the Qur’an

Today we’re still in the Chamber of Sacred Relics in the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Türkiye (formerly Turkey). Whereas on Monday I concentrated on objects more closely associated with the Prophet Muhammad, today I’m going to get a bit more diverse starting with two items linked to David. But first, let’s look around at the impressive interior of what used to serve as the Privy Chamber before it became home to the Sacred Relics. Note the h...

Istanbul — Touring Topkapi; Religious Artifacts Part 1

A bow and two swords once belonging to the Prophet Muhammad (7th century)

There is a very special place within the Topkapi Palace which houses some of the most sacred relics of Islam and the Old Testament. This special place, located in the Third Courtyard, was once the Privy Chambers. Today it is known as the Chamber of the Sacred Relics. The relics contained within range from artifacts that purportedly once belonged to the Prophet Muhammad to items supposedly possessed by David, Joseph, and...

Fun Photo Friday — Topkapi Favorites 1

Ursula Enjoying the Sights at Topkapi Palace

Today is the first of three Fun Photo Fridays featuring favorites from Topkapi Palace:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)