Cheap ideas for sailing in Istanbul waters

Going to Istanbul and not getting on a boat in its waters is like going to Rome without seeing the Pope. Istanbul offers some interesting boat trips. The most famous are a trip to the Prince Islands and a boat trip on the Bosphorus. Depending on the different tourist agencies and packages,prices could differ but the most popular is 20 EUR. For this money you receive a pleasant trip with a tour guide telling you some interesting facts about the places you pass through.But I, being a budget tourist, prefer guiding by book and map and take tours by myself.

Dolmabahce Saray

First thing we did was going to the Asian part of the city.Athough over the Bosphorus there are 2 bridges, the water transport works pretty good too and it is very important part of the Turkish transport network.Ferries and ships have several stops on the European and Asian side.А single ticket costs 1.75 TL (0.90 EUR),very cheap price to move from one continent to another!.The biggest ferry dock is Eminonu,located at Golden Horn,where you'd find ferries to almost every part in and around Istanbul.Here is a map of the different docks of Eminonu,showing their directions.

View to Galata Tower from Eminonu

On the Asian side

A regular ferry

For a Bosphorus cruise you can take IDO Scenic Bosphorus Tour or Turyol Bosphorus Tour. The first one departures from the main Eminonu dock,costs around 20 TL round trip and brings you almost to the Black sea.There are 3 ferries in the morning,at noon and in early afternoon(not sure about exact hours). If you wish you can go by the first one and then get back by the last one because there is a fortress that could be visited and you can also eat in one of the fish restaurants at Anadolu Kavagi(the last tour stop). But one way journey takes 90min so if you choose this trip you have to anticipate almost a whole day. If you don't have enough time you could have a shorter cruise for only 10 TL with Turyol. Their ferries departure from Eminonu(the dock near Galata Tower).This ferry would bring you to the second bridge and back for 90min.
Whatever option you will choose you'll be fascinated by the beautiful buildings and the nature around.

The first Bosphorus Bridge

The Bosphorus

Another amzing and interesting trip is to Adalar(Prince islands).You can take the ferry from Kabatas,which is just in front of Dolmabahce Saray.A single ticket is only 2.80 TL round trip and one way jouney takes 1.5 hours to Buyukada(the bigest island). There are several ferries a day(the interval between the departures is about 2 hours).
The islands are called "prince" because in Byzantine Empire the emperors have sent there the princes who threatened the throne to be exciled and executed. Now the islands are a great vacation resort for Istanbulians.Rich Turkish and Greek people build cottages where they spend their holidays.Most of them prefer the islands because vehicles are forbidden,only horse carriages are allowed. You can have a walk or a horse carriage around Buyukada to see the little streets and beautiful wooden houses.
It's a great day trip(or could be half day) over the Marmara sea.Don't miss to have a coffee or tea on the ferry under the sun in the company of the seagulls.

Marmara Sea

One of the Prince Islands

At Buyukada

There are not only beautifull and rich buildings

I strongly recommend you both destinations.But if you ask me what I prefer,it will be hard for me to tell you. Both destinations have their own specific beauty and athmosphere and you won't regret visiting any of them.Have a nice and save trip!

Turkish local food

The famous Turkish doner

Turkish are famous with the sweets they make.In my previous article I told you about lokum,that great delight but they have many others not less delicious ones.A good example is baklava.It's made by a special pie pastry,sugar and nuts and other ingridents depending on the special kind baklava.You can try it in one of the hundreds pastry shops in Turkey.Baklava is very sweet and syrop so be careful with it.It could be great present for your friends and family.In the special shops they have beautiful gift packages.Besides baklava also wonderful sweet is pismaniye - very different but also so tasty. It is something between sweet cotton and halva.

Different kinds of baklava. The picture is taken from this site.

As I like to do - start from the sweet and then I go through the main meals.One of my visits in Turkey was in Izmit for 2 weeks. I had the chance to try more of their kitchen.What I found out about Turkish is that they put eggplants in almost everything. Of course it is not exactly everywhere but they really like it.They have number of meals including vegetables:besides eggplant,another popular vegetable is pepper and hot pepper.I find it a little bit more spicy than I'm used to but anyway it is delicious.Another typical character of their kitchen is that they also cook a lot with more oil which is deffinitely needed for the vegetarian meals.

The salad is seen easily  and the other meal is our mix of bread,roasted meat,rice and vegetables.

When it is about meat,Turkish eat mainly chicken and beef(never pork,well...religion). A popular way to serve  meat is roasted or grilled in different variations,called kebab.Some of the most popular kebabs are sis kebab,served on a skewer and doner kebab,wrapped in Arabic bread with vegetables.
Talking about Turkish meat we should never miss the fish. Because of the 3 seas Tukey is situated at there is almost always and everywhere fish.Best places I've tried fresh fish are in Istanbul at one of the restaurants on Galata bridge and also in the restaurants by the Bosphorus.

Beef kebab with tomatoes

I think it was a troat fillet but I'm sure it was delicious

Restaurants beside the Bosphorus

Balik ekmek,meaning fish with bread that I didn't manage to try. I read somewhere that they don't serve in anymore accoring to some European requirements.

Turkish love bread.When you go to a restaurant they always serve you a plate with their bread,a small salad with chopped vegetables and some sauce to dip.For a main meal you could have pide,looking like pizza but the bread and the ingridents are different or lahmakun which dough is thinner and its shape is smaller. They both are usually covered with chesse,tomatos and minced meat but they could be also vegetarian or plain.Burek is a typical pastry in Turkey and has its variations in Eastern Europe too.It is made by very flat dough and usually is filled with cheese.

Pide is on the right and some other bakety goodies.

Going in Tukey you should not miss to try the local cai(tea). Turkish drink strong black tea on every hour or two.They made it in a special way in 2 pots - the smaller one is put on the top of the bigger one and it covers it. In the bigger one they put water and in the smaller one they put tea leaves with less water.It has to boil and it’s ready to be served. Be careful to pure one third of the cup with the concentrate from the upper pot and then refill it with the hot water from the bigger pot.They serve it in little beautiful glass cups and it's a real pleasure to consume it.

The 2 pots and the cups waiting to be filled

I didn't say anything about the Turkish coffee but you can read here everything.I'm ust telling you that it is strong and tasty and I loved that coffee cup.

I decided to finish this article with Yeni Raki , the local liquor drink. Yeni raki is an aniseed-flavored drink,looking like Greek ouzo,it's great with a couple of ice bars.Serefe! (cheers)

Shopping in Istanbul

Fresh watermalon near Topkapi Palace

The first thing we think about when hearing "Istanbul" and "shopping" is Kapali Carsi or Grand Bazaar.This is a huge covered market,one of the biggest in the World and definitely very old - it has started get bigger and famous since the beginning of XV century.The market has more than 50 streets and more than 5000 shops. Some of the main selling goods is jewelry. Turkish are masters when talking about gold. Also the concept of the evil eye,called nazar is widespread, and people carry many amulets to protect themselves from bad words and eyes.It is very popular and you can buy it form everywhere as part of a jewelry,keychain or whatever gadget.Another popular item at the market is ceramic.The art of Turkish tile and ceramic-making developed over the centuries incorporating many different techniques and styles.Popular decorations of dishes,bowls,vases,etc are mostly the traditional flower and plant design,favorite colours are blue and white as well as purple and red.
Carpet weaving is one of the most ancient crafts in Turkey even the Turks were among the earliest carpet weavers. Their carpets come in distinct styles from different regions of the country. They have a big variaty of materials,construction and patterns.
Of course goods like clothes,leather,shoes,etc could be also found around the whole market.They also vary from traditional to modern styles.
The main entrance of the market is situated at Cemberlitas square,one station distance far from Sultanahmet.

In front of the main entrance of Kapalicarsi

Inside Grand Bazaar

At the open area of Kapalicarsi

An inportant thing everybody should know when shopping in Turkey especially on such markets is bargain.You'd almost never see stickers with prices on the items.The aim of the sellers is to ask for the price and then the show begins.They'll ask you what price you need then they'll give you lower one and so on and so on.So finally you'd meet somewhere and you just have to buy it because otherwise they'd be really offended.Just don't offer a price unless you're ready to buy the item at that price.So my advice is if you don't like the item that much and you don't have intention to buy it,just don't bargain.Say thanks after the first price you receive and go away.We bought 2 beautiful cups for tea.He offered 16 TL,we offered 8 and finally we paid 11 but I believe that it was expensives. Prices at Kapali Carsi are high but it deffinitely deserve to go around and take a look.

Local people buy shirts(maybe bargain)

I loved a lot the Egyptian market or also known as the Spice market.The market is situated just opposite the Galata Bridge at Eminonu.Its names come from the Ottoman times when different spices have come from Egypt. It's smaller than Grand Bazaar but it's not less interesting. You can see again clothes ,ceramics and souvenirs.By the way there is a favorite shop of mine where I love buying different colourful bracelets for only 1 TL each!
But the market is really famous with the food.Of course you can see different types of spices and also great variaty of tea.But what I really love there is the lokum(the popular Turkish delight) and also nuts and dry fruits.Sellers stay in front of their stands and offerenig you to try the delights,it's almost impossible not to do it but it worth it.

mmm..those lovely sweets

In front of the Egyptian market

and some nuts

When talking about clothes Istiklal Avenue(Indipendance Avenue) is your place.It starts from Galata Tower and leads to Taksim square.You'll find boutiques with expensive clothes of ones of the most famous designers but also there are shops with very reasonable prices suitable for every pocket.The street is also full with music shops and book stores although if it is about books I recommend mostly the bookshop in Sultanahmet area.

Istiklal Avenue

You could strike on street traders everywhere.Most of the times they'll try to make you buy their goods at any price.Especially perfumes,it's even funny. They start persuading you that this is original "Chanel" for example and he will give it to you only for 10EUR.After bargain you can take it for 3-5 EUR.And of course you know it's not original.But they are afraid of The Police and it's possible to escape in the middle of the sale if they see a policeman.

The Kumkapi Fish Market market is known for its fresh and seasonal fish that is mostly caught or cultured in Turkey although you can find also Norwegian salmon for example.Most of the stalls sell at similar fares but each saleman always offer something in addition - garfish, baby lobster or a pile of crabs.The market is located along the Marmara coast,near Sultanahmet. 

I guess there are so many more places for shopping in Istanbul and I'd love to take a walk along other markets,shopping streets,Malls.I read that now(16.03-26.04) there is a shopping festival in the city and I'm sure that would be really enjoyable event.

Sultanahmet area -some of the main sightseeings of Istanbul

Probably most of you have visited Istanbul or at least have heard a lot about that incredible city.In the following articles I want to share my view on this multicultural city with those of you who have been there and already have impressions and also to guide and give some more information to those of you who still haven't seen it.
We made this trip for only 4 days so what we could see was not everything we wanted. And that is why I came back here 2 years later and also I have the intention of doing it again and again cause I feel I won't be tired of it at all. But let's get back in my first visit in March 2008.

On the street

We were lucky to have a nice and warm weather,not to think about umbrellas or warm clothes.Of course our tour started from Sultanahmet area.First we visited Aya Sophia(St.Sophia).It used to be a church built in the middle of VI-th century in Byzantine until the Ottomans captured Constantinople when it has become a mosque.Then in 1935 the young Republic turned it into museum that is nowadays, one of the most visited in the city. Pictures and icons are still standing on the walls from the whole period of almost 1500 years. It's amazing how the history is kept in so many years.

Inside with the pictures on the walls 

Those icons are left from the Christian church

The next signuificant place of Turkish history we saw was Topkapi Palace that is located just behind Aya Sophia. On our way we met dozens of street traders trying to sell us postcards and tourist guides. I was surprised how many languages they knew(at least the words for the things they were selling).The Palace is really huge,4000 people were living there.It has been the main residence of the Sultan for around 400 years.An interesting part of the museum is the Harem where all the women of the Sultan have lived.In the whole yard there are beautiful gardens and at the end of the Palace the view to Marmar Sea and The Bosphorus is just amazing.Talking about gardens, there is no way to miss the wonderful green areas in the city.Flowers are everywhere - fresh and beautiful.
To go around the Palace and enter its main rooms you'd need at least half a day,it's hard to cover an area of 700 000 square meters for couple of hours!

The main entrance

In one of the inside yards

Dishes from the kitchen

Those beautiful flowers...

...and again...

and again...

Why the area is called Sultanahmet? Because of Sultan Ahmet mosque,mostly known as The Blue mosque,the first one with 6 minarets.A legend tells that Sultan Ahmet I has told the architect to build a mosque with altin minarets,meaning golden. But the architect has heard alti which means six in Turkish.But the Sultan liked the minarets so he didn't punished the architect.
It was my first time entering a mosque.Tourists enter not from the main entrance but from a side one. I knew that everybody gets inside only if he takes off his shoes.Women are also given hijab,a muslim headkerchief to cover their heads because no hair must be seen.
The mosque inside is big and nice.Blue tiles are covering its walls that is why the mosque is famous like The Blue mosque.I noticed that while men were praying in front of the mihrab,women standed behind them,at the end of the mosque. I read somewhere that they are separate because according their religion men just cannot be standing on their knees in front of women.

The Blue mosque

Maybe you see the silhuettes of the women behind the fence?

Part of the interior

The main entrance of the mosque is from Hippodrome square.It was built in 203 as a great facility for horse racing.Now it is a meeting point for the tourists.During the Byzantine Empire here were held daily reces,gladiator fights,bloodshed,weddings.Today only 3 massive columns indicate the ancient origin of this arena.The 5 meters tall Egyptian obelisk was brought from the temple of Apollo all the way from Karnak.The snaky column has the same origin. Imperator Constantine has contributed a further column also called the column of Constantine.
The lastest and newest building at the Hippodrome is the German Fountain from 1989.German Emperor Wilhelm II during his second voyage in the East has been impressed by the hospitality of Istanbul.When he reterned back to his country he issued the project of this elegant fountain and sent it as a gift to the city.

Egyptian obelisk

The snaky obelisk

The fountain

That tour is great to be done for a day,enjoying also the parks,the gardens and the streets in the most historical area of Istanbul.Next time I'll bring you shopping.