Dear EC friends,

 

Better late than never !!! I wrote this post more than 3 weeks ago and i forgot to post it. So here it is. I hope you will enjoy this little Turkish tour.

 

Today, everything is quite here, it's the third day of Bayram holiday and most people are with their family, relatives or friends. So i was thinking about something interesting i could do on my own and, all of a sudden, an idea came to my mind. Why wouldn't i go to the the open air « mini city » museum to make pictures of some of the most famous places of Turkey and to share them here with you. I thought it would be a fun way for me to spend my afternoon and, at the same time, a good way to show you more about this country i love so much. Sometimes, pictures talk more than words and, who know, maybe with this post, i will give you the urge to come to this side of the world for a few days. But watch out, this country is mesmerizing and, as me, you might become addicted to it.

Ready ? Let's go...

 

Our first stop will lead us to Istanbul the biggest city of the country ( more than 13 000 000 inhabitants) the city of my heart, the city that leaves no one indifferent, the only city in the world, built on two continents, Europe and Asia.

Every turn of the streets is an encounter with history, the history of our culture, one that starts with Hittites, the Greeks, the Gallic tribes, the Roman or Byzantine not forgetting the Ottomans.

Despite the turmoil of history, the city is still very cosmopolitan, at the muezzin's call, answer the bells of the churches or the pedestrians' indifference.

 In the streets, I came across a Gypsy in enticing cleavage, women in black tchador,

high school girls in schools' uniforms, grandpas wearing the kippa (little hats worn by Jews men ), Catholic sisters and Orthodox priests wearing their congregation's outfits, transvestite with high heels, bureaucrats in suits and ties or Kurdish peasants coming straight from the mountains.

In Istanbul, a chador does not shock, no more, no less than a miniskirt, in front of me a brand new shiny 500 mercedes 'rubs elbows' with a carriage full of garlic cloves pulled by a skiny donkey while a sophisticated woman, perched on her high heels, has tea with her well covered conservative colleague

Everything is possible here, Istanbul is an entire world in itself !

Guess what !!! After spending one hour walking around and taking photos in the museum-park the battery of my camera runned out ! Can you believe this ? I can't !!!

So i had to end my photos coverage .... until my next visit .

There are hundreds of other amazing things to photograph in Istanbul, but remember that I took those photos, you see here, in an open-air museum, so only a few of the "must see" of the city are represented .


I hope you enjoyed the journey :))

 

Vocabulary :

To mesmerize : verb (UK usually mesmerise)

[T often passive] to have someone's attention completely so that they cannot think of anything else

[T] old-fashioned for hypnotize

The turmoil : noun : a state of confusion, uncertainty or disorder

Enticing : adjective : Something which is enticing attracts you to it by offering you advantages or pleasure

Peasants : noun : a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows crops, keeps animals, etc. on it, especially one who has a low income, very little education and a low social position. This is usually used of someone who lived in the past or of someone in a poor country

 

From : http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ 

 

I found some informations on the following links. If you wish to know more.

http://www.minicitypark.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/İstanbul_Sirkeci_Terminal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_(Empress)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittites

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Comments

  • Thank you, dear Manuela for your warm welcome!

    Now I have such a great guide!

    Wish you a lovely day!

  • Hello Valentine,

    Heheh, Moscow is not so far from Istanbul and many russians are all over south western Turkey.

    Yes, you're right this city is breathtaking and once you visit it you can't stay away too long. Although I do not live there, I visit it each time I can and if i am in the city when you will come it will be my pleasure to show you around. Thanks for your kind comment.

  • I want....very want...Will you take me to this amazing trip, dear Manuela?!!!!

    Just breathtaking blog!!! So interesting and shots are great. I charmed!!!

    You killed me with your blog. It was the last drop of my patience :)

    I run to pack my things...

    See ya in Istanbul :)

  • Hello Robert,

    Thanks for stoping by and writing such a nice comment.I am glad my post could take you to  a place you don't know yet. I am not sure i really understand what you mean by "me being a nationalistic" I am Belgian, not Turkish, but i feel like a world citizen and i could live in many different places on our earth.

    Thanks for the informations you gave us about your wonderful country.  This church has a beautiful architecture.

  • Hello Manuela,

      Wow! I haven't seen the beauty of Turkey until you took me in this free tour. It was really informative and creatively done.... I admired you for being nationalistic. Your photos speak a thousand words. Anele was right though, our country is rich in natural resources. There are some old churches built during Spanish Era, which was preserved but some were destroyed during World War II. Here is one of my favorites to visit.... I got it on-line.

    2382833508?profile=originalThe Quiapo Church in Manila is probably the most popular church in the Philippine archipelago. This church is officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

    Here is the link of famous churches in my country.

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful blog!   : )

     

  • Hahahah, dear Anele, i can imagine you in such a dress, don't forget to sew on here and there some red  and white berries, so they look like rubies and diamonds :))
  • Dear Asma, your country is also beautiful and it is on my top list of places where to go. I have friends from Irbid who came last August to visit me in Turkey. We had a great time. You're welcome anytime as long as i am there :)) Thanks for stoping by.
  • Hi Manuela

    I am ready to go with you just send me the ticket..joking

    Turkey is absolutely wonderful  .I wish I could visit it one day .Thanks for sharing this nice blogs with us.

    have a nice time

  • Dear Anele, there are enough wonderful leaves in your rainforest to make the most magnificent dress and you could even weave a crown of creepers:))
  • Thanks for the interesting link Cetin. I am sure some of our friends will be interested to  check it.

    There are so many other amazing places to visit in your country. South East has many great places that are worth to be seen too. A huge choice !

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