Emel argues in Turkish with the man at the door. We move to the side door. The next man waves his arms and exchanges sharp remarks as Emel argues back waving in the direction of my sister and me.
From growing up in a bilingual home, I've learned to get meaning from tone of voice and body language and this man does not want us in there.
Emel shoos us in anyway and says just go, forget the man, I'll tell you what he said later when we're inside.
After removing our shoes we step inside Blue Mosque. So named for the beautiful Blue stained glass inside. But the first thing that hits me is the wall of odor. The smell of sweaty feet wafts up my nostrils and makes me blink back water in my eyes. After adjusting, I'm able to focus on the lights hanging low and the comings and goings of the mosque as well as the amazing beauty of the architecture and stained glass.
As we sit, Emel whispers that the man did not want to let us in. He said that visitors weren't allowed at prayer time. She told them we weren't visitors...we were Chinese (even though we're Taiwanese-American). I'm not sure how that made sense...but he let us in.
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