Let’s Talk Turkey

October 7, 2015April 2, 2017 / Robin Busalacchi / 4 Comments

What do you think of when you think of Turkey? Exotic markets? Aromatic spices? Turkish coffee? Flying carpet rides? Turkey is all that — although we’ve yet to see a rug fly — and much more!

Although I can only speak to Istanbul, Frank and I have found the city to be one of the most interesting we’ve visited. Istanbul is where east meets west, old meets new. It is the only major city in the world that straddles two continents. Remnants of the ancient city wall butt up against modern trams and highways. Ancient baths are frequented by well dressed business people. And although you see a mosque on every other block with the call to prayer blanketing the city five times a day, the Turkish government has long enshrined a history of secularism — making Turkey a modern, democratic state. It’s a fabulous city of contrasts and choices — and some really friendly people!

: Istanbul – a city of contrasts.

: Old

: and new.

: Traditional (and always with cigarettes!)

: and modern.

: Old

: and young.

: Rich

: and poor.

: The young people, as in most European capitals, are trendy and stylish.

: Even the cops look like models!

: There are many references to America.

: Turkish version of “The Voice”

: A uniter of young and old is traditional Turkish tea and

: Turkish coffee.

: Young and old sit at cafes drinking,

: smoking and playing backgammon.

: Traditional street food is affordable. The semitci tasted like Italian bread with sesame seeds.

: Simitci

: Corn on the cob and roasted chestnuts were available anywhere there were a lot of people.

: Stuffed peppers are a traditional food

: Doner kebab is meat cooked on a vertical spit, much like the Middle eastern shawerma or Greek gyros..

: Another popular Turkish fast food is kokorec,. A fspicy meat filling is put into cleaned animal intestines and then it is roasted on a spit. (Can’t say I tried this!)

: Fresh Bosphorous caught fish (like this red mackarel) is readily available in the local markets.

: And of course, there are the famous Turkish desserts — both traditional . . .

: and modern.

: Turkish delight is delightful!

: Religion also unites . . .

: the old and young. Most of the people in Turkey are Muslim . . .

: but there is acceptance of all religions.

: The Bosphorous Strait is the lifeblood of the city.

: The strait provides food . . .

: and also connects the people.

: Trams, boats and

: many, many taxis connect the various areas of the city.

: The Old City . . .

: . . . with its many historical sites . . .

: and older neighborhoods.

: The “New City” with the Galata Tower . . .

: and busy Istiklal Steet

: (which is hopping at night!)

: with Taksim Square at its head.

: The Asian side of Istanbul, on the eastern side of the Bosphorous is predominantly upper class.

: Here you find many colorful and upscale neighborhoods.

: Note how the home owners extended their upper floors out to give them more space.

: Shared taxis called “dolmuş” — pronounced doll-moosh — cheaply shuttle people from Kadikoy to nearby beach areas.

: Everywhere we went there were a lot of stray cats . . .

: and dogs. The dogs were all tame . . .

: and they all had tags indicating they were vaccinated.

: Another thing we noticed was that shopping was often divided into areas. This street was all wedding dresses (how convenient!)

: Other areas were just tools or just lighting or just jewelry. One thing about Istanbul — there was no shortage of shopping anywhere!

: Always a lot of choices.

: Modern convenience (public, clean, accessible) . . .

: with another choice — traditional or modern?

Sights of Istanbul

October 8, 2015April 2, 2017 / Robin Busalacchi / Leave a comment

Turkey is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Asia meets Europe in Istanbul, making the city a very strategic location throughout its rich history. It was also known as Constantinople and was the capital of three great empires: the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman. History, religion and assorted cultures create a rich mosaic of incredible sights . . .

: Our tour of Istanbul will start on the left in the Old Town and then go across the “Golden Horn” to the new city.

: The walls surrounded the old city and date to the first half of the fifth century AD, built during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Theodosius II.

: The oldest aqueduct in Istanbul, Valens has served the city for more than 15 centuries as its most important water source. It was built in the Late Roman and Early Byzantine era.

: Constructed in the sixth century, the Basilica Cistern stored drinking water.

: The upside-down head of Medusa forms the bottom of one column, proof that Byzantine builders saw Roman relics as little more than reusable rubble.

: Topkapi Palace was home to generations of sultans and their wives. In addition to some incredible jewels, visitors can see their dishes, monies, weaponry and various objects.

: Tokapi Palace

: The Aya Sofya (or Hagi Sophia) was built by Emperor Justinian. The sixth-century Byzantine masterpiece was a basilica, then a mosque, and now a museum.

: Unfortunately, much of the Aya Sofya was under renovation so there were several areas we couldn’t visit.

: Aya Sofya

: The 17th-century Blue Mosque is one of a few mosques in the world to boast six minarets.

: Blue Mosque

: The Blue Mosque is famous for its walls of beautiful İznik tiles.

: Blue Mosque

: The massive mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.

: The original complex included several religious schools, a hospital and a library.

: There is also a cemetery . . .

: . . . and a crypt where the sultan is buried.

: Much of the Chora Church in the old city walls was also undergoing renovations but we were able to see some of its stunning mosaics and frescoes.

: Like Aya Sofya, it went from Byzantine church to Ottoman mosque and now a modern museum.

: Chora Church

: Church of St George. Since the early seventeenth century it has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the senior patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox church.

: Church of St George icons

: The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), built in the 15th century, is the oldest and one of the world’s biggest covered markets in the world.

: Grand Bazaar

: Grand Bazaar

: Grand Bazaar

: Grand Bazaar

: Grand Bazaar

: The 17th-century Eminönü Egyptian Spice Bazaar.

: Great best place to pick up dried fruits and nuts, olives and, of course, spices.

: They also have coffee beans.

: Not far from the Spice Market is one of several venues to see the Whirling Dervishes. They believe this practice brings them closer to God.

: Another experience not to be missed is a Turkish bath. I never thought I’d enjoy it as much as I did — what a treat!

: Istanbul’s old train station was known as the ‘Gate of Istanbul to Europe.’ It was the last stop for the Orient Express, which ceased service to Istanbul in the 1970’s.

: Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” was filmed here.

: The Orient Express dining room.

: Guests who arrived in town by train were ferried across the Golden Horn and then carried to the grand Pera Palace Hotel in sedan chairs.

: The hotel was first opened in 1892, during the last years of the Ottoman Empire. It is very ornate and has been restored as a ‘museum-hotel.’

: The Pera Palace was the first western style hotel in Istanbul.

: Also on this side of the Bosphorous in the New City is the Galata Tower. Built in 1348, the tower was built by Genoese residents that lived in the area.

: The top of the tower boasts incredible views of the city and in a footnote to aviation history, it was from this tower that Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi flew across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia in 1638, thus inaugurating the first ever intercontinental flight.

: Leaving the tower and traveling down and to the end of busy Istiklal Street is Taksim Square. It is a gathering place and the heart of modern Istanbul.

: It was laid out in the late 1800s near an Ottoman taksim (branching-point) in the city’s water distribution system. Istiklal means distribution.

Bucket List: Ephesus – Done.

October 8, 2015April 2, 2017 / Robin Busalacchi / Leave a comment

When planning our trip to Sicily, I came across a great price on a one-stop flight. Unfortunately, that one stop (in Istanbul) was 13 hours long! But then I started thinking, “What if we took even more time in Turkey?” Ephesus has always been on my “bucket list.” Frank agreed and here we are. We were not disappointed!

The ancient city of Ephesus was located along the Aegean Sea. The convergence of three land routes and an access to the sea created a prime location for this major sea port. Unfortunately, silt from the rivers eventually filled the sea channel. It created a fertile plateau but rendered the port useless. Today the ruins are eight kilometers away from the sea.

: A pre-dawn flight took us from Istanbul to Izmir, where we took the 50-minute drive to Ephesus.

: Discovered in a vision by a bedridden German nun in 1812, this stone building is believed by many Catholics and Muslims to be where the Virgin Mary lived her last years.

: Pilgrims write and leave their prayers and intentions.

: Healing fountain at the house of the Virgin Mary

: The ruins of Ephesus

: One of two amphitheaters at Ephesus

: The library was built in 117 A.D. It was a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.

: Ephesus

: A series of six terrace houses are being restored. They date back to 1C BC and were used as residences until 7C AD.

: It’s like a big puzzle.

: You can almost imagine what life looked like.

: Ephesus aquaducts = water in

: Water out = ancient toilets

: Most of the statues were missing their heads . . .

: . . . but we saw many in the nearby Ephesus museum.

: It is believed that St. John spent his last years around Ephesus. The basilica of St. John was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527 -565 AD).