Istanbul - 2

(follow up to part 1)

Now remember this name if you want to visit most happening, most shopping, most eating and most popular street in Istanbul - Istiklal Avenue. It is located in old historic Beyoglu district. Besides many trendy shops and tasty food courts, it is great place to go for people-watching. If you don't have much time, still try to go there (not far from Galata Tower and Taksim Square where you'll definitely end up somehow!) just to walk through once, but if you have time then try to explore all hidden side streets and passages there. And be ready to be ripped-off tourist way :)) Well, last sentence is just a joke, but every joke hides some truth.


Towards the mid part of the avenue is located Galatasaray Square and Galatasaray Lyceum. The name actually more known for the football club Galatasaray SK. As I know all the management people of the club should be the graduate of this lyceum that gives education in Turkish and French. It's sort of elite school.


As you reach the other end of Istiklal street, you open up to Taksim Square.

Another attraction in Istiklal Avenue is the tram that operates only along this street. More for tourists than a public transportation.

Taksim Square is located in a major shopping, tourist and leisure area. It has same meaning for Istanbul as Wencesclas Square for Prague or Tiananmen Square for Beijing. It is the main central square of the city, and all kind of celebrations happen here. These can be national holidays or the victories of Turkish football teams or some concerts. In the middle of the square stands the Republic Monument that commemorates the formation of the Turkish Republic. In past, it was the main place for the political protests. Nowadays the protests are forbidden.

My big friend and host in Istanbul - Maha, standing in front of the Republic Monument.

As I wrote earlier, another must-do thing is the Bosphorus tour by boat (Yulia, note them all down!). You can for the long tours that takes you around the Bosphorus, or you can just hop on the ferry that operates between few ferry stations. It's also very practical if you want to reach Kadikoy from Eminonu, for example. This time I didn't go for it, but during my previous visits I've been to many tours. One of the best ones was the night Bosphorus tour organized by Koc University for the international debaters in 2003. We had whole big boat for our own, music playing loud and people dancing while touring the Bosphorus, flow of doner kebaps and drinks... And it stopped right opposite Laila, probably the most famous high-class night clubs of Istanbul by seaside, and suddenly people in Laila was watching us!


Later we ended up in the local weekend attraction point - Ortakoy. The beauty of this place lies in its view of the Bosphorus, the combination of the mosque, sea and the bridge that connects two continents... There are lots of restaurants and teahouses, as well as street sellers in this area. and it's one of the popular places for the locals to spend their weekends..


Later in the evening we were invited for some tea in Doni's house. It was to catch up with old buddy and remember old good days. And I got the latest updates on some other buddies who had been living in Turkey. His son is already grown up! Well, he's the first to get married among our classmates although we were always thinking that he'd be one of the last. :)


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