A Dash of This’n That

I decided to add one more page, since life is not all about cooking…and it also is not about just working, or gardening, or traveling or kids/pets/families, although we tend to over-focus on one of these at different times…It is all of the above and then some more… And since we are getting ready for our travel to Turkey after two years, I am being nostalgic, pulling pictures of my hometown that I have been taking for the past 10 years…

As my camera changed and got better at each visit,  Istanbul also changed a lot. Everytime, going back to visit scares me a little bit since I find differences for better or worse, and also excites me as if it is an unexpected birthday gift that I am unwrapping… Just to remind myself what I have seen in the past decade (Gheezzz, talking in “decade” terms now !), I am looking through the photos and posting the ones I find worthy. Remember that, some were taken 10 years ago with a really flimsy film camera, were developed at CVS and then scanned on a really flimsy scanner that was in the computer lab in Clemson. Waayyy back when, this was the only way to send pictures to other people! Talk about the advancement in the technology in a decade!  There is no “wow” factor in the pictures, they reflect how I spend my days now when I am there…walking, eating, shopping, and capping the day with more eating.

The picture below is from 10 years ago, taken on a rainy December morning… a typical fishing boat.

This is a restored old style Ottoman house along the coast of Bosphorus. I love this type of architecture!

And the famous Maiden’s Tower…there are a lot of legends for this little structure…You can read it here: http://www.kizkulesi.com.tr/

And this is my pitiful attempt of trying to take the picture at sunset.

I said I also spend a lot of time eating, right? This is a “mixed kebab plate”!

And some more…

A view of Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace!

Ahh! This is one of the things that I miss the most, hanging out with friends at the outdoor cafes by the sea!

There is a lot of fishing going on along the Bosphorus coast. I used to think it was the most boring hobby ever… You sit there for hours, linger at the benches on the side walk. Now, it sounds therapeutic. I guess a decade will do that to you!  Bosphorus bridge is in the background. The construction was completed in 1973 and its length is close to 5000-ft.  Now there are two bridges in Istanbul that connect Asia and Europe.  There is a talk of a third one but not sure when or where!

This is how it looks when you are walking underneath the bridge. Definitely makes me feel small.

The picture below shows the archeological dig for the Great Palace of Constantinople. It was uncovered due to an annex that was to be built by Four Seasons Hotel next door. And to no-one’s suprise, they found some remains that is said to be the Great Palace. It is really hard not to find anything in the old historical district of Istanbul. In my opinion, we need to close that area to any further development/building, and start uncovering whatelse is left under the streets. It is a mindblowing feeling, standing on those grounds, touching those old stones  and thinking how everything looked 2000 years ago… Everytime, it leaves me breathless to be in the presence of such a history.

One of the shopping centers in the old part of the town! Soo many people on the streets! It takes me a while to get used to it. As soon as I get used to it, I am back here in US, wondering where all the people are hiding here when I go out!

Spice Bazaar! They hang the flag of the  soccer league champion every year. That year, it was Galatasaray, my team!

Still in Spice Bazaar as you can see…It is not only smell and taste here, it is a festival to the eyes as well…

Another typical shopping place for people is the outdoor bazaars. They sell anything and everything. There are big ones at different centers of Istanbul each day of the week. And they are normally named with the name of the day. Such as this one: Friday Bazaar in the Bakirkoy area.

Hats anyone?

And as always, the day spent outside ends with a glass of tea and maybe some pastries. Tea is the highlight of all the visits. You walk into a shop, and the store owner will serve you tea or coffee immediately. And the place we are having tea below is one of the best kept secrets of the old town, Caferaga Art Center, an old theology school grounds from Ottoman times converted into an art center that teaches various Ottoman arts.

Thanks for tagging along… Hopefully one day, you can experience this city in person! If you visit once, you will find yourself planning another trip there soon after!

ilke