Istanbul

Cats, cats and more cats … the city of Istanbul will always be associated with the presence of these cats, which are a bit all over the place, taking advantage of any location for an extended nap, is a tombstone in a graveyard, a balcony, a terrace, at the train station, in mosques, in markets or in a window of a shop… it is sometimes necessary to compete for space on a chair in a restaurant or a sofa in a coffee shop.

Mostly are stray cats, but the population of the city takes care of them, leaving food and water and always there’s time to stop and pet this creatures that are part of the Istanbul cosy atmosphere.

The market Çarşamba in Turkish means Wednesday, the day which takes place this market occupies a significant area in the Fatih district, located on the European side of the city, and one of the most conservative areas of the city, sit a greater presence of the Muslim religion, easily recognizable by the way of dressing of the female population, which dominate the scarves to cover their heads, the hijab called, completely hiding the hair and can be used in various ways, but which dominate the silky fabrics, profusely intricate and colourful patterns.

Quite popular, more here than in other Istanbul zones are pardesu, a kind of thin fabric gabardine who dresses over clothing, slightly belted or even a discreet belt, usually black, but the younger girls They wear light-colored, and does not dispense the same use of the hijab to cover her head.

The chador, a clear influence of Iran and Afghanistan, despite being situated in areas along the bazaars of the old town here is much more common, hiding the body shapes from head to toe, and which invariably black, seems to transform women in faceless shadows.

The visit to Çarşamba market culminated in the beginning of one of the most important Muslim religious festival, after the Ramadan: the Kurban Bayrami, or Feast of the Sacrifice, during which animals are sacrificed, sheep and cows, and serves as a pretext for family gathering and for a national holiday that last for four or five days, and that happens 70 days after Ramadan.

The Kurban Bayrami celebrates the courage of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael to show their faithfulness to Allah, which is very similar to a history found in the Old Testament, when God tests the loyalty of Abraham asking him to kill his son Issac.

By Çarşamba is a bit of everything: fruit, vegetables, cheeses, olives, nuts … but what stands out is the sale of clothing, bags, shoes, scarves standing out the necessary cover her head. The celebrations of Kurban Bayrami, also pass by the gift that parents make their children new shoes and clothes, which made this market day still love her lively and crowded

 

 

 

 

 

How to get there:

In Eminonu, near the pier of the ferryboats take bus 90 or 90B and go to Çarşamba.

The south side of the European part of Istanbul, is the oldest part of town, where the weight of the Muslim presence is evident not only by the concentration of mosques as also by the way women dress, with head covered, long, loose and dark clothing. Is not uncommon find face veiled women wearing the black chador that blurs the contours of the body, but where only the eyes stand out, often highlighted by lush make-up.

This is the most popular image of Istanbul, with its bazaars where in addition to the daily use of products from inhabitants, can also find spices, dried fruit, pastries, cheeses, olives, etc … being easy to get lost in the narrow tangle streets constantly crowded with people, an incessant coming and going.

At the center of this area is the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi), clearly intended for tourists, and the Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), more modest but with more character.

But it is in the streets surrounding these sites that is possible to find the more characteristic and authentic environment of a city full of traditions, resulting from a mix of cultures and peoples who passed through here and culminating in a very own identity and that is evident from the Turkey of today.

 

Compelling points of Sultanahmet district is the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), the Aya Sofia a legacy of the Byzantine Empire and Basilca Cisterna, a complex built in the basement that once was part of the water supply system, also heritage of the Byzantine Empire and date of 532 AD.

 

One of the best kept secrets in one of the side streets in the Spice Bazaar area is the Büyük Valide Han, a building built during the Ottoman Empire to accommodate merchants and now home to artisans who insist on carrying out their trade despite the state of degradation that was voted. But what makes this special place is the view we have of the city of Istanbul from the terrace through which is accessed by a dark, narrow staircase after giving a symbolic contribution of one lira, the man who guards the entrance and receives broad smile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A city divided between two continents, between two cultures, between two ways of being, which grew up facing the Bosphorus, the natural channel that connects two inland seas: at north the Black one, at south the Marmara. Constantly crossed by numerous ferryboats and cargo ships, the Bosphorus, is easily confused with a river, but the smell of the sea that the gentle breeze drag, quickly takes us to its salty nature.

Although Ankara have stolen in the 20s the status of capital of Turkey, by the hand of Atatürk “father of the Turks”, Istanbul remains the historical and cultural capital, which currently brings together more than 17 million people, showing up modern and cosmopolitan, while maintaining the identity of Turkish culture that lives together with the weight of Muslim traditions.

It can be said that the city center is located on the European side of the Bosporus, where a sea inlet called Golden Horn in Turkish Haliç, divides the two parts of the city. On the north side lie the more European and cosmopolitan areas of Istanbul which brings out the districts of Galata and Beyoglu. Istiklal Caddesi a popular street, that goes from Galata to Taksim Square, stage of some episodes of the 2013 Arab Spring.

The south side of the Golden Horn, in the oldest part of the city dominate the mosques and Orthodox churches whose domes and minarets towering over the compact houses, are the symbol of the city; it is where are located the traditional markets and the Topkapi Palace, which was the residence of sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

Connecting the two sides of the European part of the city, the Galata Bridge, which was built in the mid-ninth century and has since undergone several reconstructions, currently going in the fifth version. In the evenings, especially on weekends, throughout the wide side walks, hundreds of men spending their time fishing while watching the parade of ferry boats that constantly cross the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, connecting several city points and literally linking Europe to Asia.

The Asian side of the Bosporus is a more modern city, with some palaces and mosques but where the most attractive is the promenade Harem Sahil Yolu, which extends towards the south from the Üsküdar ferryboats terminal, that attracts hundreds of people to savor a tea, coffee or even a simple meal, overlooking the Marmara Sea, waiting for the spectacle of the sun set, which brings out the domes and minarets of the mosques on the European side of city.

Istanbul seduces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving:

For those arriving at the main airport, Istanbul Ataturk Airport, there is a metro station that connects the city center.

For arrivals to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, focused more on the low-cost companies, the best option is the company’s bus service Havatas a shuttle service connecting the airport to Beşiktaş or Taksim square, running daily from 4am to 1am. These buses are just outside the airport’s main gate, across the street, offering a direct and comfortable connection to enter the city.

The ticket price is 14 TL, and you can exchange money in the airport or get one of the many existing ATMs.

The trip to Taksim takes about 90 minutes, depending on traffic.

Accommodation:

There are hundreds of hotels and hostel for the city but prices go too close to any European city.

The choice fell to Chillout Hostel in Beyoglu, situated in a plane perpendicular to İstiklal Caddesi, between Galata Tower and Taksim Square, which not only have attractive prices as it is situated within a reasonable distance to be done walking from the Taksim square , where finishes the connecting bus to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Istambul: Chillout Hostel

Balyoz Sk. No:3, Beyoglu

Turkey

+90 212 249 4784

//www.chillouthostelistanbul.com/

 

 

 

Were to eat:

Like any big city, Istanbul offers many options of course dominated the Turkish food, were the kebab is king, but also lots international food restaurants especially in Beyoglu and Galata area.

Cafes often offer light meals and snacks typical of Turkish cuisine, such as pide, borek, gozleme, etc …

To bridge any hunger tip that may arise, exist all over the side street of simit sellers, a typical ring-shaped bread covered in sesame seed.

In terms of food, Istanbul is quite tempting!

 

 

 

How to move:

It is unanimous that the system of Istanbul transport is modern and efficient, both in terms of buses, electric, metro and especially the ferry boats to the hundreds cross the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus channel, connecting the side the two European banks and these Asian side of the city to. However, this does not mean that occur, major road congestion that characterize peak hours.

Essential, even for those who stay only for a few days in the city, is to acquire the Istanbul Kart, a card that not only offers travel discounts on sea crossings, as it is essential to circulate in the underground network, electric, cable cars and buses, offering discount transfers between the means of transport in a 2 hour period.

Istanbul Kart: It costs 10 TL; can be loaded with 5, 10, 20 or 50 TL, in vending machines (with instructions also in English) at the entrance of boats ferry stations and stores, kiosks and tobacconists are almost everywhere in the city.