The delights of Istanbul
TURKEY
Turkey is a unique country, being the only one that spreads over two continents, dispersed over Europe and Asia. Istanbul, the largest city swells with an abundance of history, culture, food and sensational markets, like no other.
The city sprawls with people from every direction, locals going about their days-to-day lives, children playing aimlessly on their plastic instruments along the footpath, gazing into thin air busking for some pocket change, swarms of tourists posing for photos, in front of stunning architectural structures and the smell of shisha pipes in the air, as you walk through the streets. Istanbul is one spirited city.
With everything happening in the Old City Sultanahmet, it's the most convenient location to stay and where you'll spend most of your time. Istanbul's main attractions are clustered in the Old City vicinity. The area is best explored on foot, wandering through the main streets as well as the small and narrow, because around every corner there is something to be seen.
31st August 2014
Whatever your sightseeing interests, there are many places in Istanbul to explore - the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Galata Bridge, Grand and Spice bazaars to name some of the top spots.
Mosques are dispersed throughout the city and several times throughout the day, a 'call to prayer' emanates over loud speakers of each mosque. Resonating throughout the city, overlapping with calls from other nearby mosques, making sound waves collide and wash into one another. Before bed, earplugs come in handy, to drown out the call scheduled before dawn. Otherwise during moments of deep sleep you'll be in for a shocking surprise.
Of all the mosques, the most known is the Blue Mosque. A spectacular mammoth architectural beauty, brilliant during the day and magical by night. A spot favoured by tourists, the line-up is as huge as the building itself. Therefore an alternative is to head to the Eminonu Mosque located next to the Spice Bazaar and take a glimpse inside there instead. Although the Eminonu Mosque is not as vast in scale compared to the Blue Mosque, you still get a sense of the inside magnificence and design. With little or no waiting time (note: visiting times for touristsn are closed during local prayer hours).
The Hagia Sofia was once a Church, then turned into a Mosque and now stands as a museum today. Unlike the mosques, which can be visited for free, there is a fee to pay to tour the Hagia Sofia.
The Basilica Cistern was an ancient underground water container. Built directly under the streets and buildings of Istanbul. Although hundreds exist, this is one that is open to the public to explore. Visually interesting, with hundreds of marble columns spreading throughout to support the roofing. You can stroll through along the built paths, over the water, making it a nice place to escape from the summer heat above ground.
Turning back the hands of time, the Topkapi Palace was once the residence to the Ottoman Sultans. But today stands as a museum. Use your imagination to picture how luxurious and comfortable the Saltans lived back in the era. If you're not interested in entering the palace, the gardens that surround it are beautiful and makes it almost seem like a world away from the concrete streets just strides away.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaars are the two most popular markets in Istanbul. They are something in themselves, an assault on the senses playing on every sight, sound, taste, smell and feel.
The oldest and largest market in the world is the Grand Bazaar. Dating back to about 1455 and has grown immensely over time, to contain over 3,000 stores selling goods of all sorts. From loads of shimmering gold sold by authorised traders, that you can purchase not only in jewelry form, but also in gold blocks. But for many of us not walking around with pockets full of cash, there are endless fashion jewellery stores, as well as stores selling carpets, ceramics, handbags, shoes, clothes and much more. Bargaining is a must in the Grand Bazaar, as you'll be given a price and expected to negotiate, so offer a price that's reasonable and good for you.
The Spice Bazaar offers a different assortment of goods. As it's name suggests, you will find all sorts of spices, displayed in rows of colourful mounds and be hit will a galore of aromas as you enter the isles. You will also find souvenirs, olives, teas, dried fruits and nuts as well as sweets. To be exact, you'll find a load of turkish delights. So if you have a very sweet tooth, the Spice Bazaar will be your heaven. Having turkish delights of varying textures in an array of flavours. Best described as a rainbow of sugar and a dentists' nightmare.
Across the way, over the waters from the Spice Bazaar, you will find the Galata bridge. The bridge is always scattered with fisherman, tossing a line from above, in hope of hooking a catch. Restaurants are positioned beneath. Making it a great place to sit, relax and absorb the surroundings, as pools of people race to their next destination.
If it's a quick snack you're after to join the race, pick up a freshly grilled mackerel roll sold at 'Tarihi Eminonu Balik Ekmek.' A floating kitchen built inside a boat, found right across the road from the Spice Market and next to the Galata Bridge. Just follow the aromas of freshly grilled fish and sure enough your sense of smell will lead you to the right place.
A traditional dish to try is 'Pot Kebap.' A dish of either meat or seafood combined with vegetables and cooked in a sealed clay pot. When it's ready to serve, it's brought to your table on top of a tray of flames, with a brief pot tapping performance, before the clay pot is cracked opened and the meal served. A bit of fun and totally tasty.
To get a sense of Istanbul on a wider scale, the hop-on and hop-off bus tours are available and can be found between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Istanbul is not only defined by the confines of the Old City, so if you have chance to travel outside the touristy areas, do it. It's also a good way to experience the journey along the bridge between continents, while still being in the same country. Something special as it's the only place in the world of it's kind.
Another tour also available are Bosphorus boat tours and finding someone that sells tickets for these trips will be easy, as you will hear 'Bosphorus, Bosphorus, boat tour, boat tour' as you roam the Old City streets. The boat tour sails between Europe and Asia with the trip lasting approximately 2 hours. Although not a very exciting cruise, it takes a load off the tired feet and provides nice scenery.
A city saturated with centuries of history, extraordinary landmarks, culture and delicious food. It is easy to see why Istanbul attracts millions of tourists from all corners of the world, pouring in to experience the delights of Turkey. A grounded place full of welcoming and friendly locals, a visit to Istanbul will etch in your memory the enchanting architectural structures and possibly the beginnings of a tooth decay with the over supply of toothsome tasting turkish delights, conveniently available everywhere.