Ready to fly over Istanbul?

200 year old domes of an inn, cosy terrace of a hip boutique hotel, terrace of ‘historical bank turned into modern art space’ or prison turned into luxurious hotel? Yes, they are all on our list of ‘must visit’ places when you are on our photography tour ‘rooftops of Istanbul’.

Istanbul is a ‘city of seven hills’ is what is traditionally said. Over centuries the city acquired more than seven hills. Rivers of the past have dried up and created today’s uphill roads.

Mosques, han’s (traditional inn’s where traders used to spend the night), banks, hotels, watch towers have been built on these hills over the centuries. And they provide some of the most beautiful views of the city! 

Put on your walking shoes & come to discover the most beautiful rooftops of Istanbul with us!

For more info: http://www.istanbulite.com/tours/rooftops-of-istanbul

From the Nicolas Murray Exhibition, Pera Museum

Don’t miss this exhibition if you still have not seen it

This is the last 5 days of the beautiful two floor exhibition of Nicolas Murray in the Pera Museum in Istanbul.

We thought spring was here in Istanbul, however winter just came back. So, the best thing to do in this type of weather is to visit interesting exhibitions. 

If you still have not seen it, make sure you see the 1920s photographer Nicolas Murray’s exhibition in Pera Museum.

You’ll see many celebrity portraits and colorful commercial product shots. But also you will find out the relationship between Frida Kahlo and Nicolas Murray and see many unseen shots of Frida. 

You can combine this visit with lunch at Istanbul Culinary Institution which is almost right next door.

Pera Museum: 

Adress: Asmalı Mescit Mh., 34430 Beyoğlu/Istanbul Province

Istanbul Culinary Institution:

Adress: Asmalı Mescit Mh.  Meşrutiyet Cd No:59, 34437 Istanbul

Phone: (0212) 251 2214

An exciting exhibition has opened up in Karakoy. As the neighborhood has become the new focal point of art galleries, there is a new exhibition opening up almost every day.

The first personal exhibition of the young artist Elif Ozer, investigates the new wave of ‘antique’ anticipation that became popular among 20 & 30 somethings that live around Cihangir, Galata & Cukurcuma.

The exhibition deals with the relationship between the antique store owners and the objects they collect & the newly created nostalgia about 70s & 80s Istanbul.

No need to say anything else. Go check it out yourself & end your day with a bloody mary at Unter or Ops Burger at Ops Cafe.

Name of gallery: art Sumer
Adresse: mumhane caddesi no:67 laroz han karakoy
Telefon: 02122491035
Open from 11am to 7pm Tuesday thru Saturday

Ottoman Burger

Dear friend you are in Istanbul and you have had enough of Turkish food (wait, SERIOUS?) But that’s fine, I understand you. How about a yummy hamburger then? 

Lately I became a huge fan of Mano Burger which is one of the finest gourmet burger houses in Istanbul, located in the very heart of the city right by Istiklal Avenue, Taksim.

With it’s totally Americanized interior design and concept, Mano has something that makes her different than most of the other burger houses. They use typical local ingredients in their burgers such as eggplant puree, hellim peynir(cheese) and whiting(fish) etc.

My favorite is the Ottoman Burger, which has the eggplant puree and the hellim peynir(cheese). 

You can also try the whiting burger or the chicken burger, they all look delicious.

Well as we say in Turkish “Afiyet olsun” (Enjoy your meal)

Website:  www.manoburger.com

Tel: +9002122927542

Address: Asmalı Mescit Mahallesi, Asmalı Mescit Sokak, No:7 Beyoğlu, Taksim

Best things to do in Istanbul in January: 

Happy 2013 everyone! After a long pause, we are back & blogging about everything and anything about Istanbul! 

January is when istanbulites feel that winter is definitely here! And that’s exactly what we have been feeling for the past week. Istanbul has seen her share of snow for this year, with probably more to come. 

So what can one do in Istanbul at this time of the year?

** Well, you can definitely create a snowman, especially by the shores of the Bosphorus, like the one the staff of Aşşk Cafe in Kuruçeşme have created. (above in the picture!)

** Buy an Orhan Pamuk or Elif Şafak novel that is set in Istanbul and sip your warm ‘winter tea’ in one of the many cafe’s of Karaköy or Cihangir. (Definitely check out Ops cafe in Karaköy and Journey in Cihangir)

** Wander through one of the many exhibitions of the city. 

Check out what’s on in Pera Museum, Sabanci Museum, Rahmi Koc Museum or Salt Galata.

** Try Turkish wine at Sensus Wine Bar in Galata.

** Listen to local musicians jazzing it at Nardis Jazz Club in Galata.

** And finally enjoy the ‘sale’ period in the local designer stores, located on Serdar-ı Ekrem Caddesi in Galata.

Contact:

Ops cafe, Karaköy:

Mumhane Cad. 45/B, Karaköy - Beyoğlu / ISTANBUL

(0212) 245 0288 

http://opscafekarakoy.com/

Journey, Cihangir: 

Akarsu Yokuşu No.21/A, Cihangir - Beyoğlu / ISTANBUL

0212 244 89 89

http://www.journeycihangir.com/indexfl.html

Pera Museum: 

Meşrutiyet Caddesi No.65 Asmalımescit, Beyoğlu / ISTANBUL

0212 334 9900

http://en.peramuzesi.org.tr/

Salt Galata: 

Arap Camii Mahallesi, Banka sokak, No.11, Karaköy, Beyoğlu / ISTANBUL

0212 334 2200

http://www.saltonline.org/en/42/salt-galata

Sabancı Museum: 

Sakıp Sabancı Caddesi No.42

0212 277 2200

http://muze.sabanciuniv.edu/homepage

Rahmi Koç Museum:

Hasköy Cad. No.5 Hasköy, ISTANBUL

0212 369 66 00

http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/english/index.html

22 sayings about traveling. Enjoy reading!

1. “They change their climate, not their soul, who rush across the sea.” — Horace

2. “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine

3. “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends… The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

4. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

5. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

6. “A wise traveler never despises his own country.” – Carlo Goldoni

7. “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling.

8. “Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” – Benjamin Disraeli

9. “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.” – Paul Fussell

10. “He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb

11. “Travel teaches toleration.” – Benjamin Disraeli

12. “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G.K. Chesterton

13. “The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley

14. “You don’t choose the day you enter the world and you don’t chose the day you leave. It’s what you do in between that makes all the difference.” – Anita Septimus

15. “Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel’s immediate rewards, the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds, but with experiencing firsthand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way.” – Ralph Crawshaw

16. “The great difference between voyages rests not with the ships, but with the people you meet on them.” – Amelia E. Barr

17. “He who would travel happily must travel light.” — Antoine de St. Exupery

18. “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled.” — Prophet Mohammed

19. “Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block

20. “Not all those who wander are lost.” — J. R. R. Tolkien

21. ”Travel is like an endless university. You never stop learning. -Harvey Lloyd

22. “Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg

Istanbul is a shopping heaven, that is for sure. This is where the first shopping mall of the world was built in the 15th century. The Grand Bazaar, today’s biggest covered bazaar in the world, is composed of 66 streets and almost 4000 stores. It’s a maze that carries everything you need and you don’t need. From antiques to high end jewellery, silverware, leather jackets to beautiful tiles and more, all is here. 

But the shopping scene in Istanbul is not limited to the bazaar. There are unique designer stores in Galata and Nisantasi area. In the newer however still historical streets of Galata, you will find one of a kind dresses and jewellery. 

Let’s name some of the most unique shops in Istanbul:

Nick’s Calligraphy Store: This one is for sure the most unique store in the Grand Bazaar. The artist brings the leaves from Florida, dries them in between old books for a year and then paints on them with cat hair brush. 

Muhlis Gunbatti: The place to go if you are interested in old textiles and ‘kaftan’s (robes) with amazing embroidery. The owner has been in the bazaar for 56 years now and would educate you on his items as you sip your apple tea.

Hazal: This kilim store in Ortakoy carries some of the most unique kilims from Anatolia. And it is also the only place where you will be lectured by a lady. Ms Engin is sophisticated and polite, it will be a pleasure to learn about ‘kilim’ culture from her.

Iznik Classics: This gallery carries some of the most beautiful Iznik tiles in Istanbul. They collect works from several artists some of whom make the most beautiful reproductions of mosque and palace pieces.

Sofa Antique & Arts: There are two stores, one close to the Grand Bazaar, one in Galata district. The husband and wife who run these stores are quiet knowledgable and it’s a pleasure to chat with them. You will definitely be enchanted by their copper goods, old icons, ceramic pieces, beautiful rings and paintings.

BNG: Founded by three ladies, this is one of the most well-known designer stores. They use high quality cloth to manufacture their beautiful, unique pieces. In their Sishane store, they have a small outlet in the basement where you will find really good deals from last year’s collection.

Aida Pekin: Situated at the end of the famous designers street Serdar-i Ekrem in Galata, this is where you can find simple but different jewellery. Mostly in silver and gold plated. 

Private Boat Tour

Enjoy this beautiful body of water with your private boat! 

Bosphorous tour is the perfect start for a first time visitor to the city, as it also is definitely one of the favorite activities of istanbulites.

This two hour tour gives you a good sense of the city and a perspective prior to visiting the historical peninsula. It is also a perfect way to cleanse the tiredness of your trip -especially if you are jetlagged-.

During the two hour trip, you have the chance to see charming 19th century Ottoman palaces, famous seaside mansions ‘yali’s of Istanbul and medieval fortresses built by the Ottomans from the water.