We start this post by acknowledging that we do not have half the superlatives to describe Istanbul in a way that would do it justice. Former seat of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul has a fascinatingly rich history and, owing to it, a uniquely diverse culture in the modern day. Today, the city is home to a population of 13.5 million, making it one of the biggest cities proper in the world. Resplendent in its glorious past and dazzling bright in the present, Istanbul sits on the banks of the Bosphorus Straight, the only metropolis in the world to span two continents. One of the most interesting places that we have seen since starting this journey, it was love at first sight.
Aman and I flew in from Athens, excited for many reasons. First, Aman and I shared a heightened curiosity for Turkey; in fact, it was the only country that we had in common on our respective lists of "top five" must-see countries. Second, we had several friends meeting us in Istanbul (Brian and Leslie from Brazil, and Lindsay and Jodi from the States) to share in part of our travels through Turkey - and the company of good friends always make things more interesting. Third, my knee was healing so well that I could almost walk!
It was a nail biter getting in, however, because the airline employees in Athens could not figure out whether Aman's Schengen visa would allow him entry into Turkey. They had us waiting for well over an hour while they consulted with various supervisors and eventually called the airport in Istanbul to confirm that Aman was okay to fly. (Aye, we would be remiss not to point out that this is what the airline in Brazil should have done recently when we attempted to fly to Argentina...) Thankfully, all was good and we arrived as scheduled.
After a great first night reunion with Brian and Leslie - and a similar one with Lindsay and Jodi, after their arrival the following afternoon - our group kicked off the fun with a leisurely stroll across busy Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn, from the Karakoy neighborhood where we were staying to Topkapi Palace. It was a beautiful day with lots of fisherman, vendors and pedestrians out, and the bridge was teeming with activity as we crossed it.
On the way to Topkapi Palace, we wandered through the bustling Spice Bazaar, a must-see for anyone who loves the chaos of a busy, crowded market full of spices, sweets, nuts, dried fruits, toys, lamps, ceramics, scarves and embroidered goods.
Topkapi Palace itself is another must-do for those traveling through Istanbul. First constructed in the 15th century during Ottoman rule, it was home to the Sultans for 400 years or so. Today, the extensive complex houses some pretty impressive Ottoman treasures. (One of our favorites was an 86-carat diamond with a fascinating story about how it was discovered and ultimately came into possession of the Sultan.) The grounds and the views from the Palace are equally amazing. As we roved around, we wondered out loud about what awesome parties the Sultans must have thrown back in the day...
Because Istanbul is so big and so jam-packed full of cool history, our group enlisted the help of a local guide to help navigate us through some of the historic areas of the city.
The Hippodrome:
Sultanahmet Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"):
The Basilica Cistern:
Hagia Sofia Museum:
It was a long and tiring day, but highly worth it. Our guide, Asli, was knowledgable, not to mention super organized (with scheduled breaks for a traditional Turkish tea at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts and lunch), yet flexible (accommodating our request to visit a quality place where we could buy a Turkish rug) - if anyone plans on traveling through and needs an awesome guide, contact us.
Apart from the major sights, we spent a lot of time just wandering around and soaking in the energy of various neighborhoods. There was history lurking behind just about every corner. For example, one day, we went to check out one of the trendier neighborhoods of Istanbul, Beyoglu. We got there via the Tünel (the “Tunnel”), the world's second oldest subway station. While in Beyoglu, before a stroll down cosmopolitan Istiklal Avenue, we stopped for tea at Pera Palace, the hotel where Agatha Christie allegedly wrote Murder on the Orient Express. So much to enjoy!
Also, so much to eat ... from street food (Simit, a.k.a. Turkish sesame seed bagels) and sweets (Turkish delight!), to low-key joints (Akin Balik, an amazing seafood restaurant in Karakoy) and upscale restaurants (360, a trendy rooftop restaurant in Beyoglu), we were impressed at every turn.
Turkish Delight, on Istiklal Street:
A Classic Turkish Breakfast, in Karakoy:
So, basically, if you ask us, think about Istanbul ...
Aman and I flew in from Athens, excited for many reasons. First, Aman and I shared a heightened curiosity for Turkey; in fact, it was the only country that we had in common on our respective lists of "top five" must-see countries. Second, we had several friends meeting us in Istanbul (Brian and Leslie from Brazil, and Lindsay and Jodi from the States) to share in part of our travels through Turkey - and the company of good friends always make things more interesting. Third, my knee was healing so well that I could almost walk!
It was a nail biter getting in, however, because the airline employees in Athens could not figure out whether Aman's Schengen visa would allow him entry into Turkey. They had us waiting for well over an hour while they consulted with various supervisors and eventually called the airport in Istanbul to confirm that Aman was okay to fly. (Aye, we would be remiss not to point out that this is what the airline in Brazil should have done recently when we attempted to fly to Argentina...) Thankfully, all was good and we arrived as scheduled.
After a great first night reunion with Brian and Leslie - and a similar one with Lindsay and Jodi, after their arrival the following afternoon - our group kicked off the fun with a leisurely stroll across busy Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn, from the Karakoy neighborhood where we were staying to Topkapi Palace. It was a beautiful day with lots of fisherman, vendors and pedestrians out, and the bridge was teeming with activity as we crossed it.
Topkapi Palace itself is another must-do for those traveling through Istanbul. First constructed in the 15th century during Ottoman rule, it was home to the Sultans for 400 years or so. Today, the extensive complex houses some pretty impressive Ottoman treasures. (One of our favorites was an 86-carat diamond with a fascinating story about how it was discovered and ultimately came into possession of the Sultan.) The grounds and the views from the Palace are equally amazing. As we roved around, we wondered out loud about what awesome parties the Sultans must have thrown back in the day...
Because Istanbul is so big and so jam-packed full of cool history, our group enlisted the help of a local guide to help navigate us through some of the historic areas of the city.
The Hippodrome:
Sultanahmet Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"):
The Süleymaniye ("Süleyman the Magnificent") Mosque:
Another highlight of our time in Istanbul was a relaxing boat trip up the Bosphorus to the edge of the Black Sea where we stopped to have lunch in a small town, Anadolu Kavagi, known for its fish restaurants. The views of the city were breathtaking as we criss-crossed along the water and cruised under the iconic Bosphorus Bridge and, when we reached our destination, every restaurant owner in town was jumping up and down, trying to get our fleeting patronage. Their enthusiasm was quite impressive (as was our man's attempt to fleece us for an otherwise lovely meal after we finished eating).
We also made a stop at the Istanbul Modern (a.k.a. the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art), which primarily features the work of Turkish contemporary artists. We thought it was one of the better modern art museums in the world. Here, Aman and I are upon arrival, after being directed to a special access elevator for women wearing knee braces and their entourages.
Apart from the major sights, we spent a lot of time just wandering around and soaking in the energy of various neighborhoods. There was history lurking behind just about every corner. For example, one day, we went to check out one of the trendier neighborhoods of Istanbul, Beyoglu. We got there via the Tünel (the “Tunnel”), the world's second oldest subway station. While in Beyoglu, before a stroll down cosmopolitan Istiklal Avenue, we stopped for tea at Pera Palace, the hotel where Agatha Christie allegedly wrote Murder on the Orient Express. So much to enjoy!
Also, so much to eat ... from street food (Simit, a.k.a. Turkish sesame seed bagels) and sweets (Turkish delight!), to low-key joints (Akin Balik, an amazing seafood restaurant in Karakoy) and upscale restaurants (360, a trendy rooftop restaurant in Beyoglu), we were impressed at every turn.
Turkish Delight, on Istiklal Street:
A Classic Turkish Breakfast, in Karakoy:
So, basically, if you ask us, think about Istanbul ...
Every kind information about information Istanbul http://magiccityistanbul.blogspot.com
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