Since January 6, Friday, Istanbul is under heavy snow. Today (January 7, 2017, Saturday) I took some photos at the Bosphorus University, where I work at.
Continue reading “Istanbul under heavy snow”Top 5 must-see places in Istanbul
Straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, Istanbul is one of the major tourist destinations in Europe. The city’s strategic location has made it one of history’s most important cities. So there’s plenty of historic places to see, and to feel the exotic atmosphere. Here are the top five most rated tourist attractions and must-see places in Istanbul.
Continue reading “Top 5 must-see places in Istanbul”Rumeli Feneri Castle
In the North end of Istanbul, near a village near the Bosphorus‘s Black Sea end named “Rumeli Feneri”, there’s a Medieval Genoese castle: the Rumeli Feneri Castle.
Rumeli Feneri literally means “Greekland Lighthouse” in the Turkish language. The village is named after a historical lighthouse still in use which is located on the European side of Bosphorus’ Black Sea entrance in Istanbul, Turkey. Rumeli (or Rumelia) is the former name for the Turkish lands in Europe. The lighthouse was built by the French in order to provide safe navigation for the French and British warships entering the Istanbul Strait from the Black Sea during the Crimean War (1853-1856).
Continue reading “Rumeli Feneri Castle”Istanbul in 1967 (video)
A beautiful and interesting video showing Istanbul in 1967. The time that there were no intercontinental bridges, no skyscrapers, no traffic jams, and much fewer people.
Continue reading “Istanbul in 1967 (video)”Snow in Istanbul?
Most Europeans and Americans think that Istanbul is an Arabic city in the desert. Simply, it’s not. It’s cold, humid, rainy, and even snowy in winter. Rain is also common in late spring and June.
Continue reading “Snow in Istanbul?”St. Anthony of Padua Church
St. Anthony of Padua Church is the largest church of the Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul. It is located on İstiklal Avenue (see notes 1) in the historic Beyoğlu (Pera) district, the social and cultural center of Istanbul.
It is also known as the Sant’Antonio di Padova Church, S. Antonio di Padova, St. Antoine, or locally as Sen Antuan.
Continue reading “St. Anthony of Padua Church”Olympos ancient city (Antalya, Turkey)
Olympos is an ancient Lycian city, its ruins lie at the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, in the borders of Antalya province, in a river valley near the coast. It was presumably taking its name from nearby 2,375 meters height (7,792 feet) Mount Olympos (or Mount Olympus – Turkish: Tahtalı Dağı, Timber Mountain), one of over twenty mountains with the name Olympos (Olympus) in the Classical world.
Continue reading “Olympos ancient city (Antalya, Turkey)”Uzunya Beach
Uzunya is a small and beautiful cove in the north of Istanbul, near the Black Sea. It has a beautiful beach, one of the best beaches in Istanbul actually. There’s also a restaurant on the beach.
I went there during a training road bike ride. It is a good place for a train ride because it has a steep road, and very little car traffic.
Continue reading “Uzunya Beach”Cycling through the Black Sea shore
I went for a training ride yesterday with two friends. We headed up to the north and cycled through the Black Sea shore. We climbed a lot.
First, we headed to Kısırkaya, where the road has a lot of short-but-really-steep (up to 20%) climbs.
Cycling to Karaburun
Karaburun is a small village in the northeast of Istanbul, near the Black Sea. Me and two friends cycled there and swam in the sea.
Continue reading “Cycling to Karaburun”