Alright. Let's talk numbers.
1: it is 3tl to take the metro from the airport. The token (yes, little plastic token) dispenser won't take change greater than 10tl. So, you may find yourself wandering around asking people to change your newly acquired 100tl note.
2: it's 7tl for a 2 trip ticket on the bus line (which you have to take if you're staying out in medicekoy like me).
Çukurluçeşme sokak No:13 Beyoğlu-İstanbul
A new year gifts us with many opportunities, one of which is a reminder to reflect on the past. For me, this includes reminiscing on the place I cherish most from my travels in 2012: Turkey. I traveled to this magical land twice in the last 14 months because after my first visit I became obsessed with its tangible history–Turkey houses more ancient ruins per square mile than any other country in the world; its lush vegetation–imagine endless amounts of voluptuous pomegranates, ripe grapes, tangy oranges, lemons, figs, olives, you name it; its immense countryside and chaotic metropolises.
Of course it was sad to say goodbye to Buenos Aires and to my favorite people there, who are of course Maxi and Sergio. Luckily, I was able to spend Christmas with Sergio and his family, which was truly wonderful. Then the day after Christmas Maxi came back from Mar del Plata to hang out with me before I left. Really, it was rather bittersweet to leave Argentina because I have had so many wonderful times there and met so many amazing people.
A friend recently asked if she should fly a domestic or international airline for her first trip abroad.
I said go international. In my experience foreign carriers offer more perks: free wine, better food, goofier safety films.
My favorite carrier so far is Turkish Airlines. At the beginning of our flight the staff handed out keepsake boxes containing lip balm, ear plugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye shades and socks.
Today was my first day traveling solo. I am starting my travels alone in Istanbul, and after today I am so happy I have visited this mystical city. I am staying at #bunk, a hostel in the Taksim area of a neighborhood called beyoglu. The hostel is very nice and in a central location to the rest of the city. After breakfast, I walked across the galata bridge to the grand bazaar.
I arrived in Istanbul this morning at about 6am and had a nice cup of tea with Alissa before heading off to find our hostel, only to find that it was closed and empty. We waited around for a while and were graciously looked after by the two hotels next door until the owner returned at about half ten. When he arrived, he told us that it was no longer a hostel, as the previous owner had sold it.
Junk chocolate, junk commercial, junk men, junk people, rubbish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAesQfnvzd4
Gulhane park, Istanbul
I want to give a quick thanks to all those that have read, liked, or followed my blog in the past eight days! I promise that if you have a blog yourself, I'll be sure to check it out when I get home to my computer and regular wireless. Also, be on the lookout for periodic posts containing photos from the trip as I'll post them as and when I get them sorted out. Tesekkür ederim!
These boys were playing soccer at the base of the Galata Tower, once the tallest building in Istanbul, circa 1348. Needless to say, much has changed.
Accidental Discoveries: The Search for Byzantine Eagles in Modern Istanbul
Gary Audas Jr.
(Copyright 2012)
A traveler would be hard pressed to discover overt displays of Byzantine lordship in modern Istanbul, the successor to the imperial city of Constantinople, the seat of the Byzantine Empire.
When Constantinople at long last fell to the armies of the Ottoman Turks in 1453, it ended an empire that stretched from the fourth to the fifteenth century (330-1453).
Although Emrah and his family were truly wonderful hosts, I must say that it was rather challenging to sleep in their living room after traveling all the way from Argentina. Honestly, I do not think that he intentionally deceived me by telling me that there was an extra room (which there was clearly not), I really just think that his English skills are seriously lacking.
For the new year eve, I went to Istanbul. It was the first time I go in Turkey. This trip was organized by Airbus Staff Council and I had the chance to participate to it thanks to my mum who works for Airbus.
So I'm going to tell you more about Turkey and spacially Istanbul who is also known as Byzantium and Constantinople.
July 22nd, 2011
This morning, I boarded my cruise ship bound for Istanbul over the Aegean sea. Right now I'm lounging on the sun deck. I'm so excited to get off the boat and see a different country! I was in Athens and mainland Greece for well over a week. I loved it, and I will be going back soon enough to see the Greek Islands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npsp9POGVN0
Premier vidéo de ce voyage au Moyen-Orient !
J'y rencontre Freddy Karam, un deuxième degré de séparation (un ami de mon ami Jimmy Malkoun).
This is the Church of The Holy Saviour in Chora. It's a famous church for its mosaics and frescoes. The Chora Church is considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving example of a Byzantine church.
The original of this church was built in the early 5th century. However, it was only after the third phase of building, in the 14th century, that the church as it stands today was completed.
In Istanbul a meyhane is a specialized tavern overflowing with an anise flavored liquor called raki, crowd-accompanied songs, and massive trays of of small dishes called mezes.
I came to think of our trip an Istanbul meze: a tasty appetizer accompanied with cheer and joy, but one that welcomes the addition of several more. It was as exhausting as it was invigorating.
03.01.2013 Unusual geological event Turkey Marmaris Sea,
That welcome, unwelcome feeling is back. In a new place. In a new city. Lots of baggage. Lots of movement. At 6:30am this morning when jet-lag set in and I was up and wide awake at the sound of the first call to prayer, my mind started spinning.
Istanbul. I have finally arrived after months of anticipation and a hard last semester at UC Berkeley.
Whilst I was in Istanbul, I stumbled across simit, a round bagel with sesame seeds. This particular bread is typically eaten plain with a small cup of tea or alternatively, it can be eaten with cheese and tomatoes. Simit are baked daily in all neighborhood bakeries and they are usually sold in two variations, one being savory (the most common one) and the sweet one which is slightly more plump and without any sesame seeds.
This is not a post that comes very natural for me to write, so do not expect very elaborate text or very important pieces of information.
It was a weird visit in Istanbul. One because it was short. Two because it was connected to the New Year (my first NY outside the country). Three because it didn't have a proper planning done, so imagine my personality trying to adapt.
I'm just going to go ahead and get my favorite bit of Istanbul out of the way now ... and we'll write all the other posts later. :) The bazaars and markets and shopping! I am by no means a shopper ... in fact, I might be the most non-materialistic person you know. I believe in experiences rather than things. But I may have met my match in the bazaars of Istanbul.
To say that The Bosphorus Brewing Company fills a massive dining gap in Istanbul is like saying that an active case of leprosy is going to get you turned down on a first date. Having an English-style pub on the scene caused ripples of excitement in the ex-pat community that haven’t been seen since Dubb Indian Restaurant showed up back in the early noughties.
Well, we have made it! We are staying close to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. We arrived in the afternoon, strolled around the Arasta Bazaar, ate some potato eggplant thing, tasted apple tea, and saw a kitty eating the largest worm I have ever seen (a monster from the depths of the earth?).
Tomorrow we hope to visit the railway museum and/or the Hagia Sophia.
I was lucky enough to spend a week in Istanbul at the start of December, staying with some friends who are currently living there. It was really nice to be staying somewhere completely new, whilst being able to see and experience it from the perspective of a local. And it was really great to explore the more creative districts of the city.
The Taj Mahal, in dusty, chaotic Agra, India, viewed through the red sandstone gatehouse, within the press of the crowd. Symmetry and material tension run high between the dark sandstone and the brilliant white marble of the mausoleum. Conceived by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to honour his beloved wife - who died giving birth to their 14th child.
The big onion dome hovers over the crypt, its reflection absorbed in the reflecting pool.
Good morning from Istanbul! This morning I woke up to the sounds of the morning prayer. I am looking forward to breakfast, when we will make a game-plan for today. We are going to try to walk to our destinations as much as possible, as I feel you really get to know a city the more you walk it. Walking also allows you to stumble on sights you would normally zoom by in a taxi or on a tram.
Istanbul kitties, for your enjoyment.
Colored graffitis of Beyoglu... It doesn't need an explanation: 'Ahmed' is the most called name in Turkey, and 'yo2 means 'no'....
2012 was the year that I moved to Turkey. It was the year I learned what it meant to be an expat, leaving behind my home, friends and family in the UK to decamp to a foreign land.
The end of this year provides me with a chance to evaluate my experiences and come up with a list of personal highlights from my first year of life abroad.
Photo: Mert Borak @Flickr
Some cheap tickets are available to book with the Turkish flag carrier Turkish Airlines if you live in the Washington D.C area and would like to visit the beautiful and legendary capital Prague in Czech Republic.
A return ticket will cost you only 497 USD but the supply of tickets are limited so you need to be fast as it is only valid for travel between 8th and 24th February and needs to be booked at least 8 days in advance.
We awoke to the sound of the morning prayer. Not normally an early morning person, I was up at 6:30, not being able to go back to sleep.
We ate a traditional Turkish breakfast provided by the hotel, which consisted of bread, semit, hard boiled eggs, cheese, olives, and meat.
We started the day at the Blue Mosque, and then proceeded to the Hagia Sophia.
Here is what I wrote in my travel journal the day we arrived in Istanbul: “Istanbul is interesting, busy, clear, pretty, fascinating, beautiful, amazing, lively. We hired a car to take us from the airport to the Hilton. The Hilton was built in the 50’s, unfortunately too late to use in the book, but really cool nevertheless. The complex has a lot of security and is very big.
Well I spent New Years Eve in my favourite city in the world- Istanbul! Despite a fairly low key evening, I did enjoy a scrumptious dinner, plenty of wine and an amazing chocolate dessert. Oh, and the added bonus of the company of one of my best friends!
The vibe in Istanbul was very cool on NYE; despite not attending the famed Taksim street party (for fear of being groped- seriously!) the backpackers were in the streets in Sultanahmet and the fact that the Galata fireworks went off at 11.52 was just so Turkish it was hilarious.
Have a çay (turkish black tea) at a teaplace in the Haçapulco Pasajı or buy a bag of kestane (chestnuts) from one of the many street stands. Or take the old tram from Taksim Square to Tünel. You can find all kinds of restaurants, from Döner Kebap places to high class, shops and galleries, usually hosting free exhibitions of modern turkish artists, along İstiklal Caddesi.
This morning I woke up before nine (which is usually absurd for a Sunday morning) to Skype with Kat and Sibylle and make some plans for our trip to Turkey. We'll be sticking in + around Istanbul (pays + province), instead of trying to extend ourselves down the whole of the western coastline. I doubt we could make it too far south anyways, with missiles headed toward the border with Syria.*
Epiphany (6 January, also Theophany) celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. In Greece the feast is colloquially called the "Phōta" (Greek: Φώτα, "Lights") and customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters. Also in Istanbul, the Greek community celebrated today Epiphany. Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. threw a wooden cross into the waters of the Golden Horn and swimmers raced to be the first to retrieve it.
