On a rocky hill, there is a medrasa, or monastery, where 300 men are training to become Muslim priests. They come here when they are 14 or 15 years old and remain for many years, sometimes as long as thirty, before they are allowed to marry. The courtyard is shaded by orange trees, and the balconies are wide and cool. The rooms have thick walls with small windows, offering a beautiful view of the bright blue sea Istanbul Tour Guide.
A Warm Welcome
When I arrived, I was an Infidel, “a dog of a Christian.” I stood for a moment at the monastery gate when a priest wearing a white turban quickly came over to me. He invited me to enter and rest. I was happy to accept, and he seemed pleased. More priests came to greet me. They showed me their rooms and gave me a cushion to sit on by one of the windows. They offered me sweet treats, coffee, and cigarettes. I could only talk to them through an interpreter.
A Discussion About Politics
The priests were eager to talk about politics. They explained that there is no freedom of the press in Turkey, so all news comes through official channels. They knew a revolution was building. They admired England and believed that England was a friend to Turkey. They said that it was England who kept Russia out of Constantinople. But they were curious—why didn’t England force Bulgaria to stop threatening Turkey? They also wondered why England, being so rich, didn’t help Turkey by sending money to buy weapons to defend against the Bulgarians Smuggling in Kavala.
Concerns About Macedonia and Russia
The priests believed that the Bulgarians were taking control of Macedonia, which they said was Turkish land. They acknowledged that Turkey would eventually lose Macedonia, but they felt it was wrong for the Bulgarians to take it. They also thought that Russia was behind these problems. One of them asked if I didn’t think it was Allah who helped Japan defeat Russia in the war, so that Russia could be stopped from attacking Turkey.
