Istanbul, historically known as Byzantium and later as Constantinople, served as the capital of two powerful empires: the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) and the Ottoman Empire. For over a millennium, it was a political, cultural, and economic center that…
Orhan Veli’s poem “I Am Listening to Istanbul” (Turkish: İstanbul’u Dinliyorum), written in 1947, is one of the most iconic works in Turkish literature, capturing the essence of Istanbul through vivid imagery and a serene, introspective tone. It is also…
Istanbul has become famous worldwide as the “city of cats” in recent years. And it’s true; there are hundreds of thousands* of stray cats in Istanbul, and many of them live better, are better fed, and even receive healthcare at…
A nostalgic photo of Istanbul, likely from the 1980s, shows the Ülev passenger ferry departing from the Karaköy pier. The image evokes a sense of the city’s rich maritime history, with the ferry gliding through the waters of the Bosphorus,…
August 2024: Early morning on the Bosphorus in Istanbul. A view from the European side towards the Asian side. The sun is about to rise. A large cargo ship is making its way from the Black Sea towards the Sea…
In 1971, the majestic SS France ocean liner made a rare visit to Istanbul. This extraordinary event was captured in a unique photograph, showcasing the elegant liner against the backdrop of the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus and the iconic…
The name “Istanbul” has a rich and complex history, reflecting the city’s long and varied past. It probably comes from the Greek phrase “στὴν Πόλι” [stimˈboli], meaning “to the city”, or “in the city,” reinterpreted as a single word; a…
On June 26, 2024, I was cycling with my friend Matthias, and while climbing Havantepe (which can be translated as Mortar Hill), we stopped to take photos. Here’s a beautiful view of the Bosphorus from Havantepe Road.
I took this photo of the Bosphorus while cycling on May 25, 2024. The Bosphorus looks like a lake in this photo. The Black Sea (north) is on the left-hand side (to us), so I was looking East. Not in…
On Saturday, May 18, 2024, I set out on my bike from Bahçeköy with my friends, intending to cycle through the Belgrade Forest towards Göktürk. While passing through the Belgrade Forest, I saw a huge male deer on the right,…
Istanbul offers more than just its popular tourist attractions. Numerous hidden gems go beyond the typical guidebook recommendations for travelers eager to experience this vibrant city like an “active” local. Here I picked four non-touristy activities that reveal a different…
There’s a beautiful artificial lake inside the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), where our office is. Today, after lunch, my colleagues and I went there and walked around the lake. I took some photos.