RUSTEM PASHA MOSQUE EXTERIOR

It's already November, and I'm still showcasing the beautiful sites of Turkey. I am definitely a sucker for tiles and wanted to get in a few (thousand) of my favorite Iznik patterns. 

Tucked on top of the Spice Bazaar, the Rustem Pasha Mosque was a last minute gem to discover. It's not the largest or most glamorous, but the scale of the building and its patterns make for a more memorable experience. It's open to tourists outside of prayer times and doesn't have the crowds of the blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. When we hopped in (right before the afternoon prayers) we saw a scattering of foreigners. The experience was calmer and thus more authentic. We had time to walk around, get close to the walls, sit on the carpet and actually reflect. The space was meditative and calming and I watched a few man come into actually pray. I was especially surprised  that such peace and serenity could live atop the frenzied market streets. Examining every wall and tile, I enjoyed the bold colors and attention to detail.