Istanbul Insider

My "Visual Istanbul guide " is at the 'photos' section of this blog. http://my.opera.com/istanbulinsider/albums/ Each photo has got a 'zoom' function at its right corner; if you do not click that; you miss the chance to see larger photos or, especially larger maps. Towards the top of this page is a link for 'photos ' section; next to where you read 'blog' . If you click that ; you will reach the photos seciton - my visual Istanbul guide pages. If you click over the photo on the right, above this calendar, it just takes you to one single photo file only ------->>>> Through photos of Istanbul I would also like to show how to use public transport efficiently . I am including Istanbul maps, public transport familiarization instructional photos, guide photos for Asiatic Istanbul including Kadıkoy and Uskudar, more fun Bosphorus cruise options; detours in old town Istanbul missed by most visitors. Of course, if you are in Istanbul for two days you will the the common highlights; but so many people are coming more than twice, and they can use special advise for more tastes of Istanbul. This is ignored by travel industry people, who, without much effort are selling the same highlights of Istanbul tour anyways, or simply they are not aware of the need for the need for special detours for people who have been in town a total of 4 or 5 days in one or more visits. Not to be missed in Istanbul :[/SIZE][/COLOR] Meals, delicassies, Restaurants : 1. Visitors usually miss dining in authentic restaurants which do not use much advertisement ; including some great kebap restaurants and " zeytinyagli" vegetable cooked in olive oil specials offered by some specialty restaurants meeting the quality of the homemade. On Asian part of the city , Kadikoy district has got couple of these, including Ciya, and Canak. On Istiklal Street, Hacı Abdullah is also very good. ( but no alcohol in these restaurants ) . Access to KAdıkoy is easy by ferry - half hour ride from Eminonu, or by van half hour around noon time to Acibadem district's Canak restaurant. 2. Some of the deserts and meals, including Acibadem; has got almond and walnut in it; and almost all the visitors miss it , because no one mentions. 3. Cigkofte is a bulgur, onion, pepper, pepper paste and spice paddy, like a meatball. Original version is with the ground meat ( lamb - no fat ) , but there are places serving vegeterrenean version of it. Easiest access is "Sok" discount supermarkets, all over the city. But it is chilly. 4. Lamb schank and icpilav ( rich rice ) is a great combination to enjoy at HAcıbaba restaurant; your starter better be warm meal version of stuffed grape leaves ( etli sarma ) , this will have meat ( etli ) in it as well as spices and rice. Ask for yogurt by the side of your plate. 5. Walk downhill on the left side from the left end of the hippodrome( meanwhile Blue Mosque is on your left ) until you see the little restaurant called Buhara , on this street called Nakilbent ( on the way to the restaurant you will see this orange juice selling guy with a huge moustache, he welcomes photographers, wears a red fes - a 3 lira tip or buying a fruit juice is recommended for the photo ) ; they make their own pide bread with sesami on top ; they have this " beyti kebap " minced meat flat long meatball - as long as the size of the skewer seasoned with spices - but aggreeable taste; they first grill the kebap, then wrap it with the pide bread dough after adding ground pistachio , onion, cheese, mushroom, and sesami seeds on top of the dough. Somewhere so nearbye the touristic highlights, and so reasonably priced; this kebap is around 12$, this can be one whole meal with a soda and a freshly and fine chopped tomato- onion - cucumber-pepper- parsley salad : shepherd salad. Across Buhara Restaurant is a famous small shopping mall - Nakkas, with a Byzantine cistern at its bottom, visit is free of charge; but then the craft stores inside are tempting. The bookstore next to the restaurant has got some of Istanbul books difficult to find else where. A book with Istanbul black and white cartoon like drawings is so impressive, all should at least preview this book ( printed I believe by this bookstore ) . 6. Infidel's mountain salad ( Gavurdagi ) is missed by all; this has got walnut and pomegranate vinegar, and preferaby fresh mint instead of parsley in it ; the rest is similar to shepherd salad , with the exclusion of chpped cucumber. Served in Hamdi kebap restaurant nearby Spice MArket. HAmdi's baklava's are one of the best in the country. You can just stop to enjoy coffee and baklava. The version of baklava with a touch of cream inside is called Söbiyet ( the first letter is 'sh' , s with a comma at its bottom ) . 7. Likewise , the shredded wheat ( like a wheat hair ) desert with walnut ( kadayif ) or sweat cheese ( kunefe ) is great experience ; Hamdi has got the walnut version. 8. Mastic turkish delight : Mastic is a sap of a tree ; some chewing gums have the taste in them, as well as some of the turkish delights. Sites 1. Outside the Grand Bazaar, historical entrance of Istanbul university is only a 5 minute walk from grand bazaar, historical huge trees, and Ottoman gate of the University is very impressive, yet all the visitors on tours miss it. One walks through a historical book market, with cats all over ste stands; this is very interesting. You may find a good second hand travel book of turkey as well, in the book market, as well as Soviet Russian medals from an antique store, for next to nothing. 2. walk along Istiklal Street, but DO NOT miss the special detours around Tunel, explore the museum of the museum of the whirling dervishes, at least the area before the ticket booth. The whirling ritual is taking place here twice a week, you can check the schedule and buy the tickets here. Nevizade and Galatasaray areas, and Photographer Ara Guler's street cafe across Galatasaray High School are very scenic. This renowned photographer's photos decorate that narrow street like an outdoor exhibition. İn the same street, Goethe Institute's roof top offers incredible Istanbul scenery. Also nearby French Street is a nice stroll. In the street of Ak PArty, a street cafe even day time has got live music, that is one of my regular stops. Across the street car stop at Tunel ( the lower end of the street ) is a charming arcade , which is also the passage to the street behind it : walk until the end then take the right turn to Istiklal street. You will see some of the most popular cafés of this neighborhood here. In the arcade, the antique cafe area with plants is my favourite. 3. Ortakoy - the Bosphorus cruise for one hour, pm's after 3 o'clocks is the best in the city, yet it is only five lira a head. The waterfront area is one the most attractive sites in IStanbul, like sea port of Istanbul. 4. ( see photo descriptions at the photo links ) Take a commuter boat from Eminonu ( across spice market ) pier number 3? to kadıkoy and across the pier is a lovely walking district - shopping area, you can find at least two great restaurants, Fehmi and Ciya. as well as 20 or 30 other. In early may take the boat to Harem for sunset over Suleymaniye photos ( see in my www.geocities.com/oguzbalaban ) 5. The little Sokullu Pasa mosque is one of the most charming, yet not as famous as the large ones; and it is a short walk from the hippodrome : try not to miss it, you won't regret. Likewise, photography in the courtyrard or in front of the gate of New Mosque ( yeni cami ) - adjacent to Spice MArket is not to be missed; the most impressive courtyard of all the mosques in all of Turkey. ( a photo here got an award in a turkish photo contest ) . 6. Photography on the streets around the golden horn estuary; with an investment of half an hour; you may take some great looking elder vendor shots, i.e. sleeping in front of his shot ( such a photo in an international photo contest got an award ) 7. If you need a gift for 3 to 14 year age range; at Taksim Square, the store of Zihni Sinir ( in the street across Taksim Square's McDonald's ) store has got the inventive products of a great mind, a Turkish cartoonist - Zihni Sinir. For a preview of his collections, visit : http://www.zihnisinir.com/tr/