#praying for Taksim | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

anamedblog · 2 years

Text

Snapshots of Beyoğlu

by Dimitra Makri, ANAMED Post-Doctoral Fellow (2021–2022)

How could someone paint Beyoğlu with only a few colors or describe it in a few, simple words? I will never forget the vivid descriptions of my great-grandmother, Helen, who seemed to have erased from her memory all the unpleasant events that marked the Greek community and her life. She was always talking about “her” Istanbul and her neighborhood in Beyoğlu with great nostalgia, and one of her dreams was to come back at some point.

I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to visit, for the second time, the places where she grew up, wander the same streets she played in as a child, and light a candle in the Orthodox churches where she prayed. For Helen, Istanbul was her home, her soul, her world! For me, it is a part of her memories and thoughts, a world full of colors, smells, dancing, and praying.

From the first days of my stay here, I felt like a member of this multicultural family that embraces people with different languages, beliefs, and identities. I was immediately impressed by the marriage of Eastern and Western elements, as well as strong contrasts. Every day, thousands of people from all over the world roam the Grand Avenue of Pera, which starts in Taksim Square and ends at the northern end of Galata.

I usually start my day with a quick visit to the church of The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, commonly known among the Greeks of Istanbul as Panagia tou Peran or tou Stavrodromiou (i.e., at the Crossroads), which is almost hidden at the end of an alley off İstiklâl Caddesi. The diffuse and sweet silence makes me forget that I live in the very heart of the city! I feel very moved when I open the door of this church, since I remember the last time that I saw there the nice colleague and former fellow of ANAMED, Vangelis Kechriotis, who left this life so young and is now resting at the Greek-Orthodox cemetery in Şişli. I immediately fix my attention on the Russian-style wall paintings, which depict the lives of Saint Mary and Jesus Christ. Nowadays, the journalist Dr. Symeon Soltarides, who comes from an old family of Istanbul, is always willing to give me details about the history of the church or the traditions and legends regarding its construction. Sometimes, I make a stop at the splendid church of the Holy Trinity (Hagia Triada), the main Greek Orthodox church of Beyoğlu, whose belltowers are visible from afar, especially from Taksim Square. At the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, you can see Orthodox people of many different ethnicities, not only Greeks, but also Serbians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Russians, Ukrainians, and others, who come for religious purposes, as well as to admire the majesty of the neo-baroque church with the neo-gothic façade and its beautiful icons.

The front façade of Hagia Triada

The interior of Panagia tou Peran

But prayer in Beyoğlu can take place everywhere, regardless of someone’s religious beliefs, either in an Orthodox or Catholic church or a mosque. What matters above all is the respect for those who make an address to the Supreme Being! The domes of the churches, the minarets of the mosques, the sound of the bells, and the prayers delivered by the imam create a unique atmosphere, which one can hardly find in any other city of the world.

In an alley of Beyoğlu, I hear the voices of the students at the Greek school Özel Zoğrafyon Rum Lisesi, where love for education and passion for the preservation of this historical monument remains lively after about 129 years. The director, Mr. Ioannis Dermitzoglou, continues his predecessors’ work with patience, affection, and, first and foremost, the aspiration to preserve tradition and pass on the torch to newer generations. I had the luck to spend some hours at the school. A harmonic blend of traditional and modern elements is fairly visible, and the responsibility to be a student or a teacher in this ‘’sacred’’ place, where important people studied in the past, is enormous. On the other hand, this haven, which hugs the younger generations, makes us feel proud of the pupils and instructors, who work there zealously and selflessly.

The main entrance of the Özel Zoğrafyon Rum Lisesi

A few hours later, Beyoğlu “changes face and character.” Sometimes, I form the impression that I am immersed in a chaotic world, where I cannot move and breathe. A series of images unfolds in front of my eyes and makes me feel confused: tourists are frantically taking pictures, as if this world will be lost tomorrow, others hurry and push me in order to find a place in one of the central patisseries and restaurants, while youths enjoy their drinks in the balconies of pubs, in the alleys, and even on the sidewalks. Furthermore, I feel very impressed when I observe the different sense of fashion and style of pedestrians who walk İstiklâl Caddesi. Some remain devoted to the traditional way of dressing, and others are up with the latest trends, capturing the eyes of passers-by. I can also see elegant, modern women, sometimes covered with their colorful hijab, others who are dressed in burka, and some who prefer to be totally revealing, leaving no room for imagination. Sometimes, I cannot discern the boundaries between the optional choice or the conventions of society; I cannot perceive the hidden conservatism or the far-fetched modernism; I cannot perceive the human limits. However, the dancing and singing, which begin with the pedestrians who band together in smaller or larger groups on the spur of a moment, melt away the feeling of anxiety and help people feel like a big family, where any difference is annihilated. Time stops in the middle of the street, and I can forget the stress of a busy day. Nevertheless, I always have the same query that remains unanswered: “How and why did this party start?” It has to do, most probably, with the urge of people to approach each other or their need to paint the town red in difficult times!

I try to find a traditional coffee shop in a beautiful corner of Beyoğlu, where locals and tourists can slowly savor a cup of aromatic Turkish coffee or tea whilst enjoying the smoke of their shisha. And the taste of the coffee is better when you share it with a good friend, discuss with the frequenters of the coffee shop, or enjoy the company of a cute alley cat that seeks attention and a good belly rub, and —why not?— a piece of food, if it is lucky.

Α few meters farther, the picture changes as one comes across large coffeehouse chains. It is common to see a large queue of people of all ages that wait impatiently in line for their beverage of choice, and unavoidably, the warm atmosphere of a cozy place is replaced by the quick and impersonal rhythm of the city.

As I walk, the smell of various delicacies from Turkish restaurants and patisseries awakens my memories and takes me back to the clean and neatly organized kitchen of my beloved Helen, where the use of butter was dominant. For her, the well-prepared and delicious food was a very nice way to bring the family together. It was a small expression of gratitude to the relatives, friends, and neighbors who visited her. I do not know if I inherited her talent for cooking, but I really enjoy playing the role of food taster with my friends when we visit the Turkish restaurants and patisseries of Beyoğlu. The taste of baklava and almond (Keşkül) and rice (Sütlaç) puddings remind me how difficult it is to make something so delicious with simple ingredients!

Cooking here is an art: it requires talent, skill, and imagination, and, above all, love for life. However, the mixture of the strong smell of lamb, fish, and spices hovering in the atmosphere sometimes makes me feel a bit dizzy, but this sensation is also etched in my memory, and I can figure out exactly where I am even with my eyes closed.

Beyoğlu means a lot to me; it is like a big box with many black and white, as well as colored, photos, a bottle full of perfumes, a painting with many colors, a world without a start and an end!

1 note · View note

blogsnes · 3 years

Text

Day 2

Today we start a new day.I plan to go to Taksim Square today to see that square and Taksim Mosque.there are a lot of tourists there too.After I finished my business, I got ready to go to my taxi. I came to my taxi by metro.I visited Taksim Square and prayed at the mosque there. I liked the mosque very much. I lingered and ate here a lot. I visited my relative after I was done here. After spending the rest of my time there, I stayed there.

2 notes · View notes

apenitentialprayer · 3 years

Photo

A Partridge is Seen in the Cage at Taksim

The Partridge and the Fowler (Aesop’s Fable #265)

A Fowler caught a Partridge and was about to kill it. The Partridge earnestly begged him to spare his life, saying, “Pray, master, permit me to live and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me.” The Fowler replied, “I shall now with less scruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations.”

trans. George Fyler Townsend

#Aesop's Fables #loyalty #betrayal

5 notes · View notes

jon-astronaut · 4 years

Note

Hey friend! Your Skam content has been a gift! So, I have a really random question (I don't know if you've answered a similar one)... But I know that Skam Turkey would probably not be good (especially because of RTÜK)... but if you had the free time and all the creative power, what would you like to see of Skam Turkey?

Helloooo! First of all, thank you for liking my Skam conteeent! I just do things I wish existed ahahah

And, thank you for this question but get ready for a loooong answer! I didn’t answer anything like this before. I only explained why a Skam Turkey wouldn’t work - as you said because of RTÜK (the government institution that regulates television, radio, online content).

I actually thought a lot about this before!

I would base it in İstanbul because it’s where I am living. I know the show would be so different placed in somewhere else but İstanbul feels nice and feels diverse enough.

so season 1, i guess would be pretty similar. I don’t think I would change much of the plot points. except the parties if happening would be smaller in scale. and instead of parties mostly they would hang at bars in kadıköy, beşiktaş, taksim a lot.

they would be studying in one of the ‘good highschools’ (not a private one).

Since Turkish shows are filled with a lot of romance I think it would be important to show a close female friend group!!! they would have sleepovers and braid each other’s hair and get each other coffee every morning from the canteen! sit together in classes! have big breakfasts in kadıköy!

I knew people that smoke weed in high school but I kinda had a niche high school experience so Eva would be against smoking and Jonas could just be smoking cigarettes. Jonas would be quite political. Maybe going to protests in Kadıköy and getting tear gased! Using his twitter a lot!

I would change William's character a lot in s1. Instead of the whole sleeping with Vilde etc. it could be just flirting and giving her hope and him being a kind of a jerk because he would think he was so cool. In the end, he wouldn’t be that toxic. (we don’t need that message! but he doesn’t need to be perfect either)

we would see the stress of the university entrance exam creeping up! eva would feel insecure and have fights with her parents about her grades and about her perfomance in dershane (private courses)! jonas doing so well wouldn’t help either

The girl squad would be the same. Turkish Sana would be a hijabi Muslim and maybe Chris would be a little conservative. Then, Noora and Eva and Vilde would be more relaxed in terms of drinking etc. Vilde could still make her ignorant comments on Islam.

(i think that part’s important because even if Turkey is known as a muslim country there are a lot of people who live the religion in their own terms. as someone who doesn’t have anybody hijabi in her immediate family i had a lot of ignorant questions too)

so s2,

Noora would be the person to keep up with the news of all the murdered women! She would constantly bring that up in hopes to educate others! And her article in the end would be about that. (she would defend #istanbulsözleşmesi #istanbulagreement)

the season would open up with noora and the girls at an 8th of march parade where the police would be there and they would run away!

Vilde would have moved on and there wouldn’t be the whole William forcing Noora to go on a date. Instead Noora would be hesitant because his action’s last year would clash with her feminist ideals. they would get together earlier!

the auction penetrators does could be for some women organization!

the sexual assault storyline would happen mid season and we would see noora go to the police etc. and the whole process!

william wouldn’t leave after finding out...we don’t need to see smt like that on Turkish tv anymore. instead in a teaching moment for the viewers he wouldn’t judge her. and not ask anything like her clothing, the drinking even if noora expected him to

(seeing her legal process is important because it takes a long time in Turkey and most of the time people don’t get punished. jonas and others would help with a twitter campaign)

in s3, william would be studying abroad and him and noora would be doing long-distance successfully!

s3 is the trickiest one and i am changing a lot, (since this the ideal world let’s imagine i can actually put in a gay character)

isak’s mother would accept him immediately but his father could have issues. i feel like the homophobia needs to be shown someway.

even would be a transfer student in their last year. and in 12th grade there would be a big background story of the university entrance exam. isak and even could meet at a study session designed by the school

in early parts of the season, we could see a lot of ‘i don’t have a problem with gay people as long as they are away from me, they don’t shove their sexuality in my face’ type of thinking from the people around. maybe some class discussions.

the boy squad would be wholesome! they would still make some weird jokes but they will learn better! they wouldn’t be skaters but they would hang out at places like kadıköy, beşiktaş a lot! maybe they could do like a little band of their own!

the internalized homophobia would be strong (but never using slurs kind of) and isak would really force himself to be with emma.

when they finally kiss instead of going for more isak would run away. and then when they see each other at school they would talk and isak would say smt like ‘let’s forget about that’

him and eva would be close friends and while talking with her about relationships he would realize it was unfair to emma and break up with her.

here comes eskild! it would be noora’s older brother who is studying in a well known university and who is openly gay! they would run into each other somehow and isak would see that he could be himself. that there are people like him. (later on the boy squad gets like lectures, lessons from him to educate themselves on different sexualities)

then, he would go to a bar even is in and they talk and pinky touches and go back to even’s. make out, spend time etc. there is no sonja storyline. instead it’s them getting together.

the mental ilness storyline stays! and isak would see even’s episode instead of waking up with him gone. he would dial his parents’ numbers and learn everything!

then, even would talk a lot about himself and explain how he feels and how is everything for him!

WAITJONAS! jonas would be such a good friend and i think the whole carelessness of skam wouldn’t work. instead he would be careless about it at first like ‘oh he is good looking’ then he would apologize for the old jokes and swears he would be better! GIVES ISAK A BIG HUG THE PHYSICAL CONTACT IS IMPORTANT! then jonas makes his mission the end homophobes on twitter and irl!

(this convo would happen either at moda sahil or in beşiktaş while eating balık ekmek which fish and bread)

(i would change a lot because i think a more positive and a more distilled portrayal is important and isak and even navigating their relationship should be seen more.)

sadly, at school in the street etc. they would never be seen kissing, holding hands. but eskild would take everybody to his university for a tour one day (there is still the university entrance exam) and isak and even would be themselves there.

s4 is also tricky and actually somehow some part of og skam works,

sana would feel isolated because the others are not practicing like her and some are not even believing. she would feel weird when fasting because vilde and noora would suggest getting coffee after school without second thinking.

let’s get political! she would have a hard time convincing people she wasn’t supporting the government. maybe some political debates in class and people would stare at her thinking she would say something old fashioned etc. (this would come up in s3 with isak first. isak would see her hanging with turkish eskild and it would click for him that it doesn’t matter for sana)

sana and jonas would bond over politics!

yousef’s story always felt familiar for me so he would be a non-believer (or if i felt brave enough he would be Kurdish and there would be a whole conversation about it) so that whole storyline happens without the noora kiss.

i would have even be exes with one of sana’s brother’s friends - much like skamit! we need some muslim gay represantation!

and instead of the fight between the boys there would be this coldness because of jealousy from isak. a fight almost breaks but even and jonas stops it while the other two boys are ready to jump the others. the episode would end with isak and even arguing sana hearing it.

next, isak and sana would have the bench talk. the whole answering the ignorant questions would be said and then they would ask each other that. in a respectful way of course. stuff like isak asking about ‘can a muslim be gay?’ and sana asking about ‘how did you realized you liked boys?’ etc.

(i am trying to teach people here)

about now sana realizes he could be with yousef regardless. and they talk.

the girls would plan an afterparty with the others in their year for after the prom! sana wouldn’t feel welcome there - it’s a club. and the fights etc.

the girls would come to sana’s home and apologize saying they want to do better learn more!

also a convo with maybe chris and eva - sana being a hijabi muslim who fasts and prays, chris being maybe loosely fasting and praying in her own way and eva who doesn’t do anything but still believes in God and considers herself Muslim and how they all feel!

then the farewell stuff would happen with banners and slogans! and they would dress up in their school’s colors!

after this sana would meet up with yousef and they would go on an official date. and it would be like they would hold hands while walking and hug but not kissess (at least not in public)

one of the final clips would be a long table in one of the characters’s home where they are having iftar! everybody made the foods, william comes back, jonas and eva gets together!

and the graduation ceremony! everybody crying! and finally a few shots of isak and even in the pride where it gets cancelled/tear gased every year! eskild would be there too! and even some other friends supporting them!

oh wow! i guess you didn’t expect this when you asked! i was halfway into this when i realized you just asked what i would like to see and i was here giving you an outline...

anyway, basically i would love to see the female friendship part being emphasized, seeing noora’s sexual asault plot in a bigger way and seeing the results, the homophobia of turkey and the hope regardless and the coming together of different ways of Islam!!!!!

if you want to bounce off ideas i am always opeeeen! and hope you liked this little turkish skam versiooon!

#skam #skam turkey #ask

14 notes · View notes

wecityguidecom · 5 years

Text

Mystical city where the continents meet: Istanbul

Istanbul... The city where the continents meet... Historical, magical, impressive but also crowded, noisy and stressful for its residents... With its more than 15 million population Istanbul is the 4th largest city in the whole world and biggest one in Turkey of course. You will find detailed information in this Istanbul city guide.

Istanbul City Guide

Short History of Istanbul

Istanbul has its own unique long-standing history. So any of the Istanbul city guides must have some fragments about its own great history. The first inhabitant of Istanbul is dating back to almost 2nd millennium BC. They have settled the Asian side of the city at that time. Back in time, Istanbul got its first name around the 7th century which is Byzantium, a Greek name for a city on Bosphorus. Around the 6th century, BC Alexander the Great took the city and peace period started for almost 200 years for this unique place. Roman Empire In year 193 a Roman emperor Septimus Severus conquered the city remained under the Roman rule until the 4th century AD. The historical name of Istanbul which is Constantinople was given by the Constantine the Great around 5th century AD after the separation of Roman Empire to Western and Eastern Roman (Byzantium) and the city is called to the capital of Byzantine Empire. At that time the city was built over the 7 hills but it's another story. Constantinople's population rise up to almost half a million between 4th and 6th century. Also during that time, the great wonder has risen in Constantinople, Hagia Sophia! Constantinople have the number of sieges, riot and plunder during history...

Constantinople, as it appeared in the 13th century, here accurately depicted by Antoine Helbert. (Source: https://tr.pinterest.com/pin/114841859222847086/) Ottoman Turks Constantinople conquered by the Sultan Mehmet II in 1453 with 53 days of siege and city named to Islambol, became the capital of Ottoman Empire. During the next 200 years many mosques, baths, madrasahs and public houses built by the sultans. With the investments to the city and peace period give a change to the city to regain its population up to half a million once more. Throughout the centuries the name of the evolve to the Istanbul. During World War I the Great War city was occupied by the allied troops until the national struggle which led by the father of Turks the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk repel them. After the birth of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 capital moved to Ankara. But during time Istanbul has continued to grow and expand drastically, today its population over 15 million one of the biggest cities in the whole world and unfortunately, it continues to grow...

How to Get to Istanbul

Istanbul geographically has various advantages. You can take a flight from more than 300 cities to Istanbul by Turkish Airline which globally recognized. If you want a more nostalgic route to reach Istanbul you can take international trains from the Balkan to reach the city. There are two airports in Istanbul which are Istanbul Airport on the European side (opened in 2019 instead of the old one: Istanbul Ataturk Airport) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side. Unfortunately, both of the airports don't have a metro line at that time and you have to take a bus or taxis. You can find information about how to get from airport to city in both ways. These airports almost 80 km away from each other. So we can say that both of them location two sides of Istanbul. Just be careful before taking a taxi! Try to use Uber-like apps to not deal with scams and overcharges. Istanbul Airport's web site in English Sabiha Gokcen Airport's web site in English

Public Transport in Istanbul

Istanbul has really advanced public transport system. Metros, trains, trams, buses, ferries and taxis... In Istanbul, you have to buy an Istanbul card to use public transport. You can buy it from the terminals in the airport or various selling points around the city. You can find the main website for Istanbul's public transport. İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality İETT (Buses) Metro Istanbul Şehir Hatları (Ferry Lines) Marmaray (Suburb train line) In Istanbul its quite easy to reach your target destination by using metros, trams, train ve ferries but not buses! There is huge traffic both during morning and evening rush times. So try to use rail systems most of the time to get around the city. Most populated and touristic areas have metro or trams so it won't be a problem for you to get these places. In Istanbul, rail and sea transport mostly serves between 06.00 and 00.00 but also night lines for the buses. You can use night buses to go to most of the places in Istanbul, just don't forget to check the timetables.

Top 10 Places to Visit in Istanbul

There are countless places to see in Istanbul and you will discover a new one every time you came back to this great city but we just wrote down 10 of them. 1. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) This legendary landmark always gets the first place in Istanbul city guide. There is a phrase about Byzantine Emperor Justinian when he entered the Hagia Sophia in 536 AD, he cried and said that I have outdone you, Solomon! At that time Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest wonders all over the world and still is. When the Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city he converted Hagia Sophia to the mosque and construct four minarets. Hagia Sophia served as a mosque until the 24 October 1934. After this date, Hagia Sophia became of one of the most famous museums in Turkey. Ticket price for visiting the Hagia Sophia is around 60 TL for the full fare. Hagia Sophia Museum Website

Hagia Sophia Museum (Source of the image) 2. Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historical wonder just in front of the Hagia Sophia. This mosque called as "blue" because of the surrounding walls of the interior. Blue Mosque was built between years 1609-1616 by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. Blue Mosque is an open and active for the Muslim prayers during the days. Because of this if you go there during praying times you may need to wait 15-20 minutes to enter the inside. You will get a free scarf before entering the mosque from the staff and don't believe anyone who offers you to get in the mosque without waiting for the queue. By the way visiting the mosque is totally free.

Blue Mosque (Source of the image) 3. Topkapı Palace Palace was both homes of the Ottoman Sultans and administrative/educational centre of the empire. After the conquest of Istanbul palace was built by the Sultan Mehmed II between 1460 and 1478. Palace actively served until the 1850s for the state affairs until it became inadequate for the protocols and other things until the sultans moved to Dolmabahçe Palace. New sections added to the palace through years by the sultans. The landmark has a total area around 700.000 square meters and its major area located in the Royal Gardens which is in Turkish, Hasbahçe. Topkapı Palace Museum Website

Topkapı Palace Museum (Source of the image) 4. Basilica Cistern Basilica Cistern is one the Istanbul's splendid historical places. This large underground cistern was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian between the 527 and 565 as a water reservoir. The cistern is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide like a rectangle structure and it has 336 marble columns. It has the capacity to hold around 100.000 tons of water. There are also Medusa head from the Roman time which is a great example of the great artwork. The Basilica Cistern Website

Basilica Cistern (Source of the image) 5. Galata Tower Tower has a panoramic view of Istanbul's historical peninsula as well as the surroundings.63 meters high tower was built by the Genoese colony around the 14th century for the defence of the Galata district and its located directly opposite of the ancient Constantinople. Also during the Ottoman reign, Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi was the first Turk who overflew the Bosphorus to Üsküdar for more than a 6000 meters in distance.

Galata Tower (Source) 6. Grand Bazaar Here is one of the most-to-see places in Istanbul city guide. Grand Bazaar is the largest covered market in the world! It has various of goods buyers which make it more and more famous. Grand Bazaar's covered area is around 30.700 square meters with more than 60 streets and 4000 shops. Enormous! The bazaar was constructed by Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest and during the years it also expands by the following sultans.

Grand Bazaar (Source) 7. Prince Islands Prince Island is a combination of nine islands on the Asian side of Istanbul. You can take ferries to the islands from Kadıköy, Bostancı and few other places. There no motorized vehicle on the island except for the police, fire and health departments. Four of the islands are the biggest ones; Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada. "Prince" name comes from the Byzantine period when the royal family members exiled to these islands. There were also largely Jewish, Greek and Armenian on islands. 8. İstiklal Street and Taksim Square Taksim Square and İstiklal Street are two of the most famous and known places in İstanbul. Many hotel and restaurant located in these areas and liked by the tourists. There is an Independence Monument in Taksim Square which is located the entrance of the İstiklal Street. Also, I new mosque is being constructed a couple of years which is also located in the square and its quite nice one. There is a historical tramline serves between Taksim Square to Şişhane. You can find there the world 2nd oldest metro line serves from Şişhane to Karaköy which name is "Tünel" in Turkish. Metro, funicular and bus lines go through the Taksim and Şişhane which makes them very easy to reach and get around.

Taksim Square and Mosque on the background (Source) 9. Üsküdar Most of the Istanbul city guide ignores or neglects the Asian side but it has its own beauties. Üsküdar is located on the Asian side of the İstanbul and it is located the entrance to the Bosphorus. The district has a long history back in days to the Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi years around 1352 before the conquest of İstanbul. During the Ottoman period, Üsküdar was one the judgeship of İstanbul. People who come from the Anatolia resided in Üsküdar after it was taken by Organ Gazi. During the 17th century, there were around 70 Muslim, 11 Greek and Armenian neighbourhoods. There is also Kızkulesi (Maiden's Tower) just the shore of Üsküdar which has history long-standing history from the Byzantine.

Maiden's Tower (Source) 10. Istanbul Archaeology Museum This is one of the best museums in Istanbul. It is located at the Topkapı Palace. The museum complex has three main sections which are Museum of the Ancient Orient, the Archaeology Museum and the Tiled Pavilion. The museum gets the collections from beginning of the 19th century by the museum director, archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey.

Entrance of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum (Source) How long the Istanbul city guide will it be never enough for a city like this... Just let yourself to discover its unique beauties... Turkey is visa-free for most of the countries. You should think to visit Istanbul and probably you won't regret this decision. Don't hesitate to leave your comment for the people who're planning to go there or already there! We will improve this Istanbul city guide together. Read the full article

#istanbulcityguide #istanbultravelguide #visitistanbul

2 notes · View notes

dillkite33 · 2 years

Text

The Definitive Guide to luxury tours of turkey

15 Private tours of the early Christian church which happens to be Lower in to the slopes of Mt Staurin (Mountain in the Cross) was well-known with spiritual worshipers and tourists. Thought to be the earliest put in which the freshly converted people fulfilled and prayed in secret the holy water on the positioning is considered for being blessed and possess therapeutic powers.

We go on on the Karatay Tile Museum, spellbound by its exquisitely Seljuk-tiled dome, ahead of returning to our hotel where by we will dine tonight. Trying to find a luxury private touring encounter? Glimpse no further, as our luxury tours of Turkey will allow you to find out Fantastic Places like Istanbul and Cappadocia. Taste the adventure and discover new cultures whilst savoring premium companies and amenities. Dotted across the town you will discover historic baths, areas with 500 several years of cleansing record. Adult males and ladies enter diverse sections and deep levels of Filth are scrubbed away in therapeutic sessions revealing spa therapy specifically how it absolutely was numerous centuries in the past. luxury private tours turkey fill the extensive general public squares, locations to rest and reenergize that has a cup of sugary tea in the wandering chai traders. Or perhaps check out some espresso, a thick cup of beans served inside the indigenous way. Possibly you'll test some Turkish delight, the sweet shops lining narrow roads and propelling whiffs of sugar that mingle While using the spice emporiums close by. Thanks for all your initiatives in rebooking our youngsters and making certain they were cared for. Your endurance and experience are considerably appreciated. It seems like you have currently subscribed to our publication. Are you interested in to subscribe making use of another e mail address? Your selected departure day will function some seasonal itinerary adjustments to what is exhibited. Click on 'Look at ITINERARY' under to determine whole specifics. If the Sunlight, sand and sea of this historic region have not rather captured your coronary heart still, get encouraged by our Turkey Vacation Guide wherever we unpack several of our favorite Turkish ordeals and how to minimize your carbon footprint by reserving by means of TourRadar. Guided private tours can be obtained below that you should bathe during the thermal waters. It's close to 3 hrs away from the city of Kusadasi. The Istanbul metro is found right here, making it quite a bit additional critical. Quite a few monuments and statues can even be found in right here. The Taksim Square even contains a indicating of its name; Taksi... Straightforward but powerful, the Mevlevi Order of Sufis are already whirling Considering that the thirteenth-century. It's a kind of Islamic worship and witnessing their overall performance is a very exceptional working experience. Our attendees are at the center of every little thing we do, their responses fuels our innovation, inspiring us to enhance continually and craft Only The Best vacations. That is why we ask Just about every of our attendees to depart a 3rd-social gathering confirmed, independent evaluate after just about every excursion. Romos Travel tactic each function having an open canvas making sure that it finest displays your eyesight and identity. Our couture services and inspiration, coupled with your vision will bring to lifetime the Turkey Tour package of one's desires! The vacation was really great. We had lots of pleasurable. Everything was organized extremely perfectly. The punctuality was commendable. Also, the help prolonged when the flight was canceled from Kayseri was just our savior. We have been delighted that we selected Travel Triangle and D'organizers for our vacation to Turkey

#luxury #turkey #tour #package #private #tours

1 note · View note

allarrows · 6 years

Text

pray for me sisters, i'm going to taksim for the night march

31 notes · View notes

bolachasgratis · 6 years

Photo

Bolachas Now Playing, 40/2017 (#125):

Jason Molina - Solitude Adrian Crowley - The Wish Adrian Crowley - Unhappy Seamstress Calexico - Voices in the Field Marco Z & The Pretty Dead Sea - The Most Beautiful Night Robert Plant - The May Queen Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Come and Be a Winner The Wood Brothers - River Takes the Town Curls - Gentle and Kind Gill Landry - The Only Game in Town Gambles - Hello, Laura (ft. Father John Misty) The Staves & yMusic - All the Times You Prayed Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band - Picasso Gunn-Truscinski Duo - Quiet Storm (Taksim III) Sufjan Stevens - Mystery of Love Peter Oren - Anthropocene Jim James - The World is Falling Down Nick Garrie - I'm on Your Side Korey Dane & Zella Day - Blood on the Mattress Joe Purdy & Amber Rubarth - Someone Singing to Me

6 notes · View notes

ulimarta · 5 years

Text

5 Days Trip in Istanbul, Turkey

(Sultan Ahmed Mosque at night. Picture was taken by me, December 2018)

Istanbul is one of my favorite place to travel, especially because Turkey's meatball is so delicious (I think it is one of the best food in the world!). Compared to Europe, this place is also not so expensive in terms of accommodation and food. Last year, I spent 5 days in Istanbul, since I just finished my exam and want to do super chilled travelling. In my normal pace, maybe 3 days will be enough to explore the city.

Visa to Turkey

You can apply for e-visa for Turkey. Everything is online, you don't need to go to any office and you can receive the visa immediately. You can access the e-visa application here.

How to Travel to Istanbul

I came from Budapest, and there are two direct airlines with route Budapest-Istanbul, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. I chose Pegasus since it was so much cheaper (like 100 euro difference at that time) and it only 2 hours flight. The difference between Pegasus and Turkish is the airport in Istanbul. Using Pegasus, I landed in SAW Istanbul Sabiha Airport instead of Istanbul Atatürk Airport (now, they move Turkish Airlines to Istanbul Airport).

It took around 1.5 - 2 hours from the airport, longer time than from Atatürk. But don't worry, the transportation in Turkey is nice and just by asking around, they can help you. I don't use any packet data when I was there and I survived.

To use bus/tram in Turkey, there is Istanbul transportation card available outside the airport. You can buy it from machine, but they only accept cash, so make sure you bring Lyra or withdraw it from ATM inside the airport (afaik, there is no ATM outside the airport, so I need to go back to airport to withdraw my money). I top up with 30 Lyra and it can last me until the end of my trip.

Where to Stay

I stayed at a hostel in Sultanahmet area. The most popular place to stay is Sultanahmet or Taksim Square area, however I choose Sultanahmet since it is has tram stop and also walking distance to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

I have 4-bed female dormitory room and it cost me around 10 euro per nights with breakfast. They served Turkish tea, eggs, bread, cheese, fruits and salads for the breakfast. With only 10 euro, I think it was really worth the money. It was in December and low season, so I shared the room only with one girl and for the last 3 days, I have the room for myself.

Where to Eat

I tried several places, but the one that I recommend is Tarini Sultanahmet Koftecisi Selim Usta, located near to Sultanahmet stop. The grilled meatball are just really delicious, and for Asian, don't worry, they have rice too.

What to See

Since in this trip I was in relaxation mode, I visited (of course) the mainstream location such as

Basilika Cistern

For you who watch Inferno, there is a scene where the villain wants to spread the disease through underground water system, and yes, that's Basilika Cistern. I am in awe of its structure and the fact that they can build it underground. There is also Medusa statues on the two of its pillar with weird position (upside down and sideways). The myth has it that Medusa turn the people who look at her into stone, those the weird position is to prevent that thing from happening. However, logically, people think that the Medusa head were placed there to support the structure.

I personally think that this place is one of my favorite in Turkey. Although it is not as big as I expected, but I rarely see this kind of structure underground, especially with water underneath. However, it is not included in Istanbul museum pass, so you need to pay it separately.

The Istanbul Museum Pass covers other placese such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Harem, Chora Church, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, etc. It cost around 30 euro for 5 days after first use. I bought the ticket in front of Topkapi Palace and I think it is good value since I can skip the queue to buy ticket for each place after that.

Hagia Sophia

Known also as Ayasofya or Sancta Sophia or Church of the Holy Wisdom, it displays the meeting of Islam (central mihrab, direction of Mecca) and Christian religions (Virgin Mary and Christ with John the Baptist). You can walk here from Sultanahmet stop, in my case I just need 10 minutes walk from my hostel.

Topkapi Palace

I think, Topkapi palace is the biggest place that I've visited in Istanbul. I love their "kitchen" section, and they also provide nice and (imho) complete information. I really like the fact that they can provide "complete" facts such as how many lambs they need to order for the entire kitchen, what is the food for king or for other family members.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Also known as Blue Mosque, because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design. If you are muslim, you can pray here too. It will be closed during prayer time, so of you just want to see inside, better to not come during prayer time, especially midday Friday prayer.

Men should wear long trousers, while women should cover their hair, arms and their legs from knees up. Before go to the mosque, you should put your shoes in plastic bags (free of charge) provided at the entrance. There is also a room where you can ask more about Islam if you are interested to know more about the religion.

Galata Mevlevi House

If you want to understand and learn more about Sufi's way of life, their history and tradition, this place is right for you. I enjoyed the time I spent there, especially since I have read about Sufi especially Jalaluddin Rumi from my father's book collection. I remember when I was a child, I got confused with his concept about God-human relationship, especially through one of his poem. However, now I kinda find that he has interesting point of view.

Don‘t think that saying "I am God"

is proclaiming one‘s greatness.

It is actually total humility.

Some one who says,

"I am the servant of God"

infers two – God and himself –

whereas someone who says,

"I am God", negates himself.

He relinquishes his own existence.

"I am God" means

"I don‘t exist.

Everything is God.

Only God exists. I am nothing.

I am utter emptiness".

Market (Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar)

I love both of the market and although I am not buying anything except Turkish snacks, I really like spending my time there. They have lots of collection from lamp (genie lamp!), kitchen utensils, clothes, or gold. I especially love the spices section and the various tea that they have.

I also visited other places such as Chora museum, Galata Kulesi and Taksim Square but not really spent much time there. If you only have limited time in Istanbul, I would definitely recommend you to go to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern. Have extra time? Then Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the market place can also be added on your list.

I think that's all what I can share from my trip. If you have any questions, just drop me a message. Hope you have nice trip!

#travel

0 notes

study-van · 3 years

Note

heyyyy !! i love your blog sm ! what's your religion? if you have one and if you're comfortable answering ofc 💗💗

I don’t really have a religion and my extended family is a mix of orthodox and muslim. I had to take religious studies class though and celebrate mostly the muslim holidays even though it’s more out of tradition than anything religious

#asks #I also used to go on a praying tour in Istanbul before but things #first blue mosque in sultan ahmet #then the smaller Catholic Church which you get by going down the stairs in taksim #then go pray outside the synagogue #then if I had time the patrikhane #lmao ye

8 notes · View notes

eresinhotels · 7 years

Photo

Kilisenin alt katında bir Ayazma bulunuyor. Bilmeyenler için hemen açıklayalım; Ayazma, Ortodoks Hıristiyanların inancına göre şifa verdiğine inanılan ve kutsal sayılan su kaynaklarına verilen isimdir. Kilise hakkındaki tarihi rivayete göre kilisenin 1080'li yıllardan itibaren var olduğu düşünülüyor. Zaman içerisinde yok olmaya başlayan ve İstanbul'un fethinden sonra toprak altına gömülen kilise arazisi, 1750 yılında bir Rum tarafından satın alınıyor. Ailenin kızları olan Maria, rüyasında Meryem Ana'yı görüyor ve oturdukları yerin altında Ayazma olduğunu söylüyor. Bunun üzerine Ayazmayı arayan arsa sahibi, 1755 yılında evin altındaki kaynağı buluyor. Daha sonra kendi parasıyla buraya kilise inşa ettiriyor.

First Day of the Month Church

There is a Ayazma on the lower floor of the church. Let us explain immediately for those who do not know; Ayazma is the name given to water resources that are believed to be sanctified according to the belief of Orthodox Christians. According to the historical calendar about the church, it is believed that the church has existed since 1080's. The church land, which began to disappear over time and was buried underground after the conquest of Istanbul, is being purchased by a Greek in 1750. Maria, the girl of the family, sees Mother Mary in her dream, and says that it is the Ayazma under the place where they live. On top of this, the owner of the plot looking for Ayazma, found the source under the house in 1755. He then builds a church here on his own.

#church #historical #pray #istanbul #taksim #tourist #Tourism

0 notes

topraktattoo · 7 years

Photo

Günaydınlar güzel Türkiyem iyi bir hafta sonu dilerim 🌞✌😉 Cool praying hands tattoo designs🎨 Kişiye özel tasarım... <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 🌟Birşeyler vardır her kes için kalıcı olan 🌟 °°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°° ☆☆☆www.tattootoprak.com ☆☆☆ #Coolpraying#hands#Göktürkalfbasi#familya#tbt#ulus#star#taksim#maslak#ataşehir#cihangir#tattoo#turkey#tattoos#photo#tattootoprak#levent#etiler#sariyer#instacool#beşiktaş#istanbul#topraktattoo#tattoolife#bebek#nişantaşı#akmerkez#istinye#cihangir (Tattoo Toprak)

0 notes

divinum-pacis · 3 years

Photo

People pray outside the newly built Taksim Mosque at the Taksim Square in Istanbul, Friday, May 28, 2021. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the landmark mosque, fulfilling a long-time ambition to build a Muslim house of worship in the space that has become an emblem of the modern Turkish Republic. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

#religion #politics #islam #muslims #mosque #turkey #divinum-pacis

5 notes · View notes

wecityguidecom · 5 years

Text

Mystical city where the continents meet: Istanbul

Short History of Istanbul

Roman Empire

In year 193 a Roman emperor Septimus Severus conquered the city remained under the Roman rule until the 4th century AD. The historical name of Istanbul which is Constantinople was given by the Constantine the Great around 5th century AD after the separation of Roman Empire to Western and Eastern Roman (Byzantium) and the city is called to the capital of Byzantine Empire. At that time the city was built over the 7 hills but it's another story. Constantinople's population rise up to almost half a million between 4th and 6th century. Also during that time, the great wonder has risen in Constantinople, Hagia Sophia! Constantinople have the number of sieges, riot and plunder during history...

Constantinople, as it appeared in the 13th century, here accurately depicted by Antoine Helbert. (Source: https://tr.pinterest.com/pin/114841859222847086/)

Ottoman Turks

Constantinople conquered by the Sultan Mehmet II in 1453 with 53 days of siege and city named to Islambol, became the capital of Ottoman Empire. During the next 200 years many mosques, baths, madrasahs and public houses built by the sultans. With the investments to the city and peace period give a change to the city to regain its population up to half a million once more. Throughout the centuries the name of the evolve to the Istanbul. During World War I the Great War city was occupied by the allied troops until the national struggle which led by the father of Turks the Mustafa Kemal Atatürk repel them. After the birth of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 capital moved to Ankara. But during time Istanbul has continued to grow and expand drastically, today its population over 15 million one of the biggest cities in the whole world and unfortunately, it continues to grow...

How to Get to Istanbul

Public Transport in Istanbul

Top 10 Places to Visit in Istanbul

There are countless places to see in Istanbul and you will discover a new one every time you came back to this great city but we just wrote down 10 of them.

1. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)

This legendary landmark always gets the first place in Istanbul city guide. There is a phrase about Byzantine Emperor Justinian when he entered the Hagia Sophia in 536 AD, he cried and said that I have outdone you, Solomon! At that time Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest wonders all over the world and still is. When the Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city he converted Hagia Sophia to the mosque and construct four minarets. Hagia Sophia served as a mosque until the 24 October 1934. After this date, Hagia Sophia became of one of the most famous museums in Turkey. Ticket price for visiting the Hagia Sophia is around 60 TL for the full fare. Hagia Sophia Museum Website

Hagia Sophia Museum (Source of the image)

2. Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)

Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historical wonder just in front of the Hagia Sophia. This mosque called as "blue" because of the surrounding walls of the interior. Blue Mosque was built between years 1609-1616 by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. Blue Mosque is an open and active for the Muslim prayers during the days. Because of this if you go there during praying times you may need to wait 15-20 minutes to enter the inside. You will get a free scarf before entering the mosque from the staff and don't believe anyone who offers you to get in the mosque without waiting for the queue. By the way visiting the mosque is totally free.

Blue Mosque (Source of the image)

3. Topkapı Palace

Palace was both homes of the Ottoman Sultans and administrative/educational centre of the empire. After the conquest of Istanbul palace was built by the Sultan Mehmed II between 1460 and 1478. Palace actively served until the 1850s for the state affairs until it became inadequate for the protocols and other things until the sultans moved to Dolmabahçe Palace. New sections added to the palace through years by the sultans. The landmark has a total area around 700.000 square meters and its major area located in the Royal Gardens which is in Turkish, Hasbahçe. Topkapı Palace Museum Website

Topkapı Palace Museum (Source of the image)

4. Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is one the Istanbul's splendid historical places. This large underground cistern was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian between the 527 and 565 as a water reservoir. The cistern is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide like a rectangle structure and it has 336 marble columns. It has the capacity to hold around 100.000 tons of water. There are also Medusa head from the Roman time which is a great example of the great artwork. The Basilica Cistern Website

Basilica Cistern (Source of the image)

5. Galata Tower

Tower has a panoramic view of Istanbul's historical peninsula as well as the surroundings.63 meters high tower was built by the Genoese colony around the 14th century for the defence of the Galata district and its located directly opposite of the ancient Constantinople. Also during the Ottoman reign, Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi was the first Turk who overflew the Bosphorus to Üsküdar for more than a 6000 meters in distance.

Galata Tower (Source)

6. Grand Bazaar

Here is one of the most-to-see places in Istanbul city guide. Grand Bazaar is the largest covered market in the world! It has various of goods buyers which make it more and more famous. Grand Bazaar's covered area is around 30.700 square meters with more than 60 streets and 4000 shops. Enormous! The bazaar was constructed by Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest and during the years it also expands by the following sultans.

Grand Bazaar (Source)

7. Prince Islands

Prince Island is a combination of nine islands on the Asian side of Istanbul. You can take ferries to the islands from Kadıköy, Bostancı and few other places. There no motorized vehicle on the island except for the police, fire and health departments. Four of the islands are the biggest ones; Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada. "Prince" name comes from the Byzantine period when the royal family members exiled to these islands. There were also largely Jewish, Greek and Armenian on islands.

8. İstiklal Street and Taksim Square

Taksim Square and İstiklal Street are two of the most famous and known places in İstanbul. Many hotel and restaurant located in these areas and liked by the tourists. There is an Independence Monument in Taksim Square which is located the entrance of the İstiklal Street. Also, I new mosque is being constructed a couple of years which is also located in the square and its quite nice one. There is a historical tramline serves between Taksim Square to Şişhane. You can find there the world 2nd oldest metro line serves from Şişhane to Karaköy which name is "Tünel" in Turkish. Metro, funicular and bus lines go through the Taksim and Şişhane which makes them very easy to reach and get around.

Taksim Square and Mosque on the background (Source)

9. Üsküdar

Most of the Istanbul city guide ignores or neglects the Asian side but it has its own beauties. Üsküdar is located on the Asian side of the İstanbul and it is located the entrance to the Bosphorus. The district has a long history back in days to the Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi years around 1352 before the conquest of İstanbul. During the Ottoman period, Üsküdar was one the judgeship of İstanbul. People who come from the Anatolia resided in Üsküdar after it was taken by Organ Gazi. During the 17th century, there were around 70 Muslim, 11 Greek and Armenian neighbourhoods. There is also Kızkulesi (Maiden's Tower) just the shore of Üsküdar which has history long-standing history from the Byzantine.

Maiden's Tower (Source)

10. Istanbul Archaeology Museum

This is one of the best museums in Istanbul. It is located at the Topkapı Palace. The museum complex has three main sections which are Museum of the Ancient Orient, the Archaeology Museum and the Tiled Pavilion. The museum gets the collections from beginning of the 19th century by the museum director, archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey.

#istanbulcityguide #istanbultravelguide #visitistanbul

1 note · View note