Istanbul Chronicles

Tripoto
15th Jun 2009
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 1/11 by Charu Gaur
Blue Mosque
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 2/11 by Charu Gaur
Cobbler and the golden foot rest
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 3/11 by Charu Gaur
Galata Tower
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 4/11 by Charu Gaur
Instabul BRT metro.
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 5/11 by Charu Gaur
Istanbul
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 6/11 by Charu Gaur
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 7/11 by Charu Gaur
Charming oldies
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 8/11 by Charu Gaur
Streets of Istanbul
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 9/11 by Charu Gaur
Street Fashion
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 10/11 by Charu Gaur
The Bosphorus during the sunset.
Photo of Istanbul Chronicles 11/11 by Charu Gaur
Wooden Tram

In June 2009, Istanbul (Turkey) felt like the best place ever for my birthday week. A keen boyfriend, mellow sunshine, cozy evening breeze, sparkling blue sea, delicious bread, amazing heritage, old world inspired sartorial sensibilities and just the right amount of friendly, I couldn’t have asked for more. I know you’re wondering what bread is doing on that list. I am a picky traveller (vegetarian at that) and bread, for me, is one of the most important criteria for rating a place, restaurants and cities. Istanbul impressed me with great bread, culture, tea, architecture, wine and more.

We did the usual touristy things like enjoying the Bosphorus Cruise and visiting the gorgeous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower etc. Seeped in history, each one of these landmarks had a story to tell but what I really loved was long walks around the stoned by-lanes bustling with people dressed in what looked like a simmering fusion of romantic vintage and slick modern.

Sun-downers took a whole new meaning in those cafes and restaurants overlooking the Bosporus, offering fresh local cuisine, tea and wine. The last evening in the city was also my birthday. We went to a highly recommended restaurant called 360. It overlooked the city and at night it looked like we were in the company of a zillion twinkling stars. While sipping on good ol Veuve, Mr. Naidu popped ‘the’ question. 6 months later we became Mr and Mrs Naidu!

Since Istanbul, I have been to many cities in different countries and no matter how exotic they were, they couldn’t manage to replace my love for Istanbul. I would love to go back to see all the places I missed due to lack of time and just soak in some more of Istanbul. I am totally up for some more Turkish delight. Amen.

There are many cruise tours available for the travellers. It is best to avoid private tours. Official ferry companies are far more reliable. There are plenty of historical sights to explore in Istanbul but that is not an excuse for ignoring this cruise. Try it, you won't regret it.

Photo of Bosphorus Cruise, Fatih, Turkey by Charu Gaur

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is also known as Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built in the 17th century. It has only one main dome.The minarets and secondary domes has the imprints of the Ottoman Empire and the classical Islamic architecture. It is still used as a mosque where people pray. Interiors are spacious and nothing less than magical!

Photo of Blue Mosque Apart, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica.It was later turned into an imperial mosque, and now it is a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. It has a long history and has been used for different purposes through the passage of time.

Photo of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

It is a large palace in Istanbul, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost 4 centuries . It contains important holy relics of the Muslim world. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Need to say anything more ?

Photo of Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

It lies beneath the city of Istanbul. It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns. It was built 1400 years ago!

Photo of Basilica Cistern, Şeftali Sokak, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

It is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of the city of Istanbul. It lies on the northern side of the Golden Horn's junction with the Bosphorus.Address: Bereketzade Mh., Galata Kulesi, Beyoğlu, TurkeyOpened: 1348Height: 67 m

Photo of Galata Tower, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

The views are breathtaking, the cocktails are great and food is delicious. What more can one ask for in restaurant ?

Photo of 360 Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey by Charu Gaur

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