Palaces

There are two major palaces in Istanbul: the Topkapi Sarayi (old palace) and the Dolmabahce Sarayi (new palace).

Vivian and I visited both of them, and were thoroughly impressed by the size as well as the enormous collection of antiques. A room well furnished with fur and comfort chairs was not for formal meeting with ambassadors; it was only the waiting room - for the translators ! The grandiose bedroom that we were shown was not for the Sultan (emperor), but merely his chief maid.

"The chief maid is always a significant person." Vivian pointed out rightly.

PS. On a second thought the bedroom of the maid should look more pretentious than the king's own one - in order to fool any assassinator !