The sexy and forbidden (Harem)

The highlight of Topkapi Palace was Harem, the forbidden quarter that housed all the sexy concubines.  Well, maybe not all of them were sexy because the non-sexy ones were married off to staff members but the real sexy ones received better schooling and were chosen to have the Sultan's babies who would eventually become crowned royalty.

Walking through Harem was amusing for the pure sake of imagination.  I just kept playing soap operas over and over in my head of beautiful girls running around, discovering their sexuality with the Sultan, and probably experimenting with each other and the other male staffers.  I also imagined Telemundo-like scenarios with the Valide Sultan (prize woman) coming down with a rare illness while the others fought to be the next one chosen, or mysterious murders, or snickering of the Sultan's pee pee size, and lots of slapping.  In slow-mo.  C'mon, haven't you seen Raise the Red Lantern?  I grew up in China watching all kinds of shows and movies about concubines!

So in the pictures below, I map out some possible hiding places and escape plans for those who had enough of the concubine lifestyle!