Although the Nizamiye Mosque is huge and impossible to miss when driving north on the M1 highway, it remains one of Joburg’s best kept secrets.
I think most Joburgers know there is a mosque there (since it’s impossible not to see). But I think few know the story behind the mosque, and even fewer know the mosque is open to the public (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) and that there are so many cool things to do there.
I wrote a comprehensive post about the mosque in 2014, so please read that for a full description. But in short: The Nizamiye Mosque is an Ottoman Turkish mosque – modeled after the Selimiye mosque in Edirne, Turkey – and one of the largest mosques (some people say it’s THE largest) in the Southern Hemisphere. All the mosque’s building materials were shipped from Turkey; the carpets and tiles were handmade by Turkish artisans. The mosque’s ceilings were all hand-painted, again by Turkish artists. The mosque complex includes a school, a health clinic, a Turkish restaurant and bakery, and several shops. This place blows my mind every time I go.
I hadn’t visited the mosque for several years. So when my friends Faarooq and Gail invited me to join them on a mission there last week, I happily accepted. The three of us had the place to ourselves, took tons of photos, and enjoyed a leisurely Turkish lunch at the restaurant.
The best part of our visit: Faarooq decided to ask at the PR office if we could climb to the top of the mosque. To my surprise, they said yes! A staff member led us up a steep stairway to a balcony just below the dome. We were able to take pictures from the balcony and also outside on the roof.
The Nizamiye Complex is at the corner of Old Pretoria Road and Le Roux Avenue, Midrand. Call 079-029-0488 or email info@nizamiyecomplex.co.za for information.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.