PHOTOS Cheerio Europe (April 7)

[Jackeens]

1

President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tour the Blue Mosque on April 7, 2009 in Istanbul

2

President Barack Obama speaks during a student round table discussion at the Tophane Cultural Centre in Istanbul

3

President Barack Obama meets with (L-R) Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Yusuf Cetin, Grand Mufti of Istanbul Professor Mustafa Cagrici, Chief Rabbi of Istanbul Isak Haleva and Armenian Patriarch for all Turkey Mesrob II Archbishop Aram Stesyan

4

President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visit sixth century Byzantine monument of St. Sophia or Ayasofya

5

President Barack Obama speaks with Chief Rabbi of Istanbul Isak Haleva

6

President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visit sixth century Byzantine monument of St. Sophia or Ayasofya

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President Barack Obama greets students at a student round table discussion at the Tophane Cultural Centre in Istanbul

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[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. beautiful photos

I liked the one with all the religious leaders--the start, perhaps, of everyone getting along?

[Kalyke]

2. Shouldn't everyone have their heads covered in the mosque?

And their shoes off? Or do Turks do it a bit differently? :shrug:

Maybe it wasn't the official prayer room and more of a tourist area.

P.S. St. Nick was a Turkish priest. Is Obama bringing home presents? :)

[starroute]

7. As far as I know, Hagia Sophia is no longer an active mosque

At least according to the books I read as a kid, Attaturk's government turned it into a museum in the 1920's. That is why you can see the Christian paintings high on the walls -- they had been covered over when it was a mosque.

On the other hand, the Blue Mosque -- which is shown in the first picture and has the reputation of being far more beautiful -- was still in active use the last I knew. So maybe things are different during tourist hour.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. It does depend upon which area of a mosque or Islamic center you are in.

If this is an active mosque they may not have been in a prayer room. The mosques I have been in required women to cover their heads, but not men. Everyone removed their shoes to enter the prayer room, but remained shod in other areas of the building.

[Fleshdancer]

3. Did Michelle leave earlier?

I haven't seen any pictures of her in Turkey and was wondering if she left early to be with the kiddos. :shrug:

[firedupdem]

4. yeah she did.. n/t

[babylonsister]

5. These are beautiful, Jackeens! Thanks! nt

[SeaLyons]

6. Wonderful pics....

thanks for posting.

[Bankhead_ATL]

8. nice pics

[BeyondGeography]

9. Stunning architecture...you can see Barack was enjoying taking it all in

Which is an important gesture to one's hosts in and of itself. I love the posture, the folded hands. Very contemplative. Our fellow humans pick up on that stuff, whether they even know it or not.

[ensho]

10. the Blue Mosque is a wonder! and pic. 3's two paintings, wish for a

closeup. they look interesting.