The highlight of the day was an early morning visit to the magnificent Chora Church. In a very small space you find some of the most exquisite mosaics and frescos ever seen. Both date from 1310 and, since they were realized during the same period, they reminded me of Dante's vision of the divine, especially the fresco of Christ lifting Adam and Eve from the grave. The early 14th century was a time when most people were illiterate; religious learning was dependent upon oral stories and visual depictions. The beautiful Byzantine mosiacs in this church told the stories of the lives of Jesus and Mary. I managed to maneuver close enough to some of the English-speaking guides to get the gist of the story, but I'm sure most of it is lost on this unchurched generation. One has to wonder if we've lost some of the magic and beauty of imagination by becoming dependent upon the literal, trusting in the power of language to explain the inexplicable.
In the afternoon we left the Hotel Uyan, our home for the past few days, and boarded the Nautica, our home for the next 12 days. We had a gourmet dinner in the Polo Club Dining Room, explored our new surroundings, and closed the day with a cognac in the Horizons Bar while watching fireworks over the Bospherus Bridge. Time to slow down to life aboard ship. We're all looking forward to it.
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