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Istanbul straddles two continents and is home to a wide diversity of cultures. It is a unique city bridging the cultural gaps between the middle east and western Europe while bridging some of the time gaps between the ancient past and today. Officially Istanbul has almost 7.5 million people. Unofficially the real number could be triple that figure as many of the nomadic tribes still avoid the census.
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My favorite spot in Istanbul is Hagia Sophia. It started life as a Christian church about 400 AD. In the 1400’s it was converted to a mosque. It’s now a museum. During its long life it’s been burned, pillaged and through more than a few earthquakes with a few rebuilds along the way. It’s impossible to visit here without feeling the centuries of history that this structure has seen. You can spend days there and never see it all.
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There are entirely too many to things mention however my favorite things were: Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Yerebatan Saray (the old Roman cistern), spice bazaar, grand bazaar, bridge to Asia, Dolmabahce Palace and the Turkish Military museum
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| Sights: |
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As listed earlier...Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Yerebatan Saray (the old Roman cistern), spice bazaar, grand bazaar, bridge to Asia, Dolmabahce Palace and the Turkish Military museum.
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| Accommodations: |
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I have no specific recommendations but I believe most westerners seem to enjoy the comforts and location of the Hilton and Intercontinental. There are lesser priced alternatives in the same area. There are also several really nice hotels in the general area of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
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| Hangouts: |
For a predominately Muslim society, Istanbul has a surprising number of places serving alcohol. The local Raki (Turkey’s answer to ouzo) ranges from ‘damn that’s good’ to ‘almost lethal’
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Eating out in Istanbul is a real treat and can be amazingly cheap. If you avoid the big hotels and obvious tourist traps, you can get a full dinner in Cicek Pasaji or Kumkapi for $6.00-$10.00.
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There are great people watching' sites all over the city. The bridges fill daily with fishermen who are more than willing to share their stories about the ones that got away
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Published on Tuesday July 16th, 2002
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