This is
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The first
President of the Republic of Turkey.
Under his leadership,
modern Turkey was established.
On a weekend trip to
Istanbul,
we had a brief taste of a country
straddling not just
Asia & Europe
but
balancing
the
subtleties
of the
modern & ancient.
Did you know that
Turkey
is bordered by eight countries
&
Istanbul has a population of
13 million?
This city of "two" faces
has much to offer.
Even the most
jaded tourist,
will
concede to this fact.
Located on one of the most
romantic & famous
waterways in the world,
the
Bosphorus
&
The Golden Horn,
this ancient
city of a
hundred mosques,
delivers the best in small doses.
Formerly known as
Constantinople
&
Byzantium,
this thriving metropolis
was the
European Capital of Culture
in 2010.
 |
| We arrived into the chaos of the evening traffic. Rain was pouring down in the midst of the bumper-to-bumper crawl. City lights twinkled through the limousine window, making every object sparkle like some pretty christmas ornament. And in between buildings, you catch a glimpse of the tall, narrow spires of exotic Ottoman mosques, standing silent against the night sky. The Grand Hyatt is located off Taksim Square, on the European side of the land. This ultra comfortable hotel, was our refuge from a very busy city. Incidentally, the service was extremely professional & prompt. |
Nowadays,
boutique hotels are everywhere,
affording each and every tourist
a selection as wide as the
Golden Horn.
The morning after the rain was blessed with a
blue sky
&
wonderfully warm weather.
Our day was spent in the
Sultanahmet old-city area
where most of the historical
sites are found.
Narrow cobbled streets
settled with old buildings
laden with history,
as rich as
Turkish
desserts.
The crush of people
&
the
on-slaught of the crowds may be
uncomfortable at first
but
an hour or two
into the swarm,
you begin to get
absorbed into the flow of the locality.
This area dates back to
667 BC.
The entire
Peninsula
was declared a
Unesco World Heritage Site
in 1985.
There are as many restaurants
as there are shops.
All full with
colourful merchandise,
reflecting the culture of the area.
Everything a short walk
from one another.
As with anything in the
Unesco Heritage
designated sites,
you immediately feel
history come alive.
"The beauty and mystery of this world only emerges through affection,
attention, interest and compassion...open your eyes wide
and actually see this world by attending to its
colours,details and irony."
Orhan Pamuk
My Name Is Red
 |
| The Sultan Ahmet Mosque or better known as the Blue Mosque, is definitely the most visited mosque in town. Built from 1609 to 1616 with it's distinct six minarets, this stunning architectural wonder is a sight to behold. Both outside and in. |
The sheer size
&
what appears to be different
layers resting upon one another is
a marvel of
Ottoman & Byzantine
engineering construction.
This imposing structure
is awe-inducing!
The interior is lined with more than
20,000
hand-made
Iznik
tiles,
in different shades of blue.
The simple metal chandeliers were quite effective.
Hung low
&
because of it's clean lines,
did not distract from the intricacy of the
ceiling.
Above, the splendour continues with
stain-glass windows
&
marble.
The central courtyard has a hexagonal
fountain surrounded
by
a continuous vaulted arcade.
It was truly a marvel to behold.
Our visit was just after noon-time prayers.
The call of the muezzin
was melodious,
as it
echoed far
&
wide.
This current form of the
Turkish Baklava
was thought to have originated from
the imperial kitchen of the
Topkapi Palace.
One bite into this many layered
filo pastry & nut
concoction,
will make you swoon!
It took a lot of will power to resist
the many, many, many
excellent souvenirs
on show.
Our walk was extremely interesting and diverse.
The locals are friendly.
The streets clean.
And with the abundance of
sights & shops,
it took longer than anticipated.
 |
| Take a look at the intricate details of this carved panel from the Blue Mosque. |
There's a great deal of meat in the local cuisine.
Yaprak Sarma, wrapped vine leaves,
Dolma,
Lahmacun
&
of course
Kebabs.
"Things never go so well
that one should have
no fear
and
never so ill
that one should have no hope."
Turkish Proverb
By contrast,
the
Asian
&
European
areas are very evident.
The
Nisantasi
district is totally westernized.
Here,
you will find everything
new & trendy.
But there are many pockets around the city
where you'll find
amazing remnants of the past.
Both recent & ancient.
On Istiklal Street,
this charming
tram runs up and down
this extremely long & sloped
shopping strip.
These tasty treats were everywhere!
All
golden & delicious.
 |
| The old & new sit well together. Men selling tea, walking around with cups & pots weave their way through business men in suits. Street cobblers are available at almost every corner, mending & polishing diligently. |
Our unseasonably warm morning was a blessing,
as we made our way to the
Grand Bazaar.
The worlds
largest & oldest
covered market.
It has 61 enclosed streets
&
in excess of 3000 shops!
Totally mind boggling!!!
Turkish tea comes from the eastern
Black Sea
coast.
Loose tea leaves are used to
produce strong tea,
normally drank without milk
&
with cubes of beet sugar.
And always in an elegant glass.
The entire city has plenty of
photo opportunities.
So grab that camera & charge those batteries!
Taksim Square
is the heart of
modern
Istanbul.
This is the
Monument of the Republic.
Crafted by the Italian sculptor,
Pietro Canonica
in 1928.
 |
| The original Turkish Evil Eye ornament is supposed to consist of molten glass, iron, copper, water & salt. This combination of minerals & metal is believed to provide a shield from the forces of evil. |
This amazingly delicious
confit of leg of
Lamb
is from
the "34"
restaurant
at the
Grand Hyatt.
Go if you can!
 |
| Nowadays, design is everywhere! And judging from what I see... high quality too! |
 |
| I captured this shot on the Galata bridge. It's astride the Golden Horn & terribly busy with life. |
 |
| Moorish inspired glassware. Very tempting indeed! |
 |
| Buses, trams, the metro & taxis are available, if walking tires you! |
East & West.
 |
| If you have time, a visit to a Hamam is a must. This cleansing ritual dates way back. A series of perspiration sessions in different steam rooms, followed by a vigourous massage, will leave you whimpering. |
 |
| Luxury is everywhere! |
Both men...making a living.
The
Hagia Sophia,
creates a beautiful silhouette.
First an orthodox basilica then a mosque
&
now a museum.
Temptation comes in many forms!!!
 |
| The Mevlevi Order performs "whirling" as a form of "dhikr"... a remembrance of God. The formal Sama ceremony is totally mesmerizing! |
It was pomegranate
season!
These super red fruit was found everywhere...
in juices, cakes & sweets.
Istanbul
is certainly a city of many interests.
From ancient old palaces
to trend setting
boutiques & restaurants.
It's all here.
One part
Asia
&
one part
European.
Turkish flavours in different expressions.
And that's what makes a visit
interesting.
The diversity of daily life,
woven into a complex balance of
differences,
creates the multi-faceted society
that defies it's conflicting challenges.
Cosmopolitan neighborhoods
wedged between old buildings,
while
expensive imported cars glide
over narrow cobblestone streets.
For many that lives here,
life goes on.
Sunrise over the
Bosphorus.
Our brief visit left us wanting more.
A sign of a good holiday.
Istanbul
has many positive challenges ahead.
And her strength is in her people.
Warm & friendly
&
obviously
hard working.
To rise up to the
demanding needs
of the
21st century,
they must move forward with
a determination that does not
allow ancient ways to hold them back.
The big question is balance indeed!
We will be back!!!
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Nice of you to write!