Istanbul aka: Constantinople

european culture capital 2010, along with essen (germany) ... but nicer ;-)

Istanbul changed my life in many ways, I wish I could share all of them.

one of them was listening the ezan calling during 3 months: Somehow it tamed me and made my sadness to go away. I miss it everyday, as I miss the Kadiköy Iskelesi, the green bus and the streets around, the sunsets over the Bosphorus, the sound of the sea!

You cant die without visiting Istanbul at least once!

Me and my friend were in Istanbul for Ramadan. First I wasn’t too happy with the planning, since it felt sorta weird to go on holiday, which usually involves a lot of nice food, at a time when people are fasting. But actually it turned out great. At night, just before dusk, people would come out onto the streets and start stacking up on food, settling down on benches and in parks, or at the fair-like concoction next to the mosque. And then at sunset the mosque would call out it was time to eat. The athmosphere was great and it was an amazing sight to see all those people sitting around in front of the Blue Mosque.

Nice City too big but neat & Clean.Blue Mosque,Istiklal Avenue,Aya Sofia, princess Island are the top attraction.but above all Bosphorous cruise was very relaxing.
On day one we explore around Taksim & walked through Istiklal.
It is very lively place all 24 hours.Dont miss the tram ride.
we took metro from tip of istiklal to Galata and walked all beneath the bridge on the Golden Horn.

Public transportation is excellent in this city.
Just dont forget to visit Topkapi & Dolmabache palace

I was about to leave in one week and the double bombings took place…for this year I give up!

A very rich place to visit, culturally, visually, historically. In some ways, it is the central city of the world.

awesome

Looks beautiful!! thanks to the Greeks of Byzantium and Constantinople who gave the city sumthing to base its history on…its ok though, just steal it lol…but still a gorgeus city, especially the grand Orthodox Agia Sophia! breathtaking!

I spent New Year’s Eve dining on a restaurant along the Bosphorous in Ortakoy with Yigit and some friend from Singapore. The view from across the Bosphorous was amazing and it was definitely one of the most unforgettable New Year celebrations I’ve ever had. :)

Aside from being a city with one of the oldest civilizations and cultures in the world, Istanbul strikes me as exotic, chaotic and very very exciting. I can wait to see, smell, feel and absorb everything when I go there in…3 days! ;)