{"id":777,"date":"2015-12-10T16:00:42","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/?p=777"},"modified":"2015-12-10T16:33:07","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:33:07","slug":"list-of-awesomeness-in-istanbul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/list-of-awesomeness-in-istanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"List of awesomeness in Istanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is part “how was my trip” post and part “here is a list of cool things to do in Istanbul”.<\/p>\n

My lovely mother (@mamadespina<\/a>), sister (@theodoragk<\/a>) and I\u00a0went to Istanbul for a few days in September to spend time together (we don’t live in the same country) and celebrate my name day (don’t ask).<\/p>\n

Serious hat tip to A.<\/strong> who was my guide in the city before the ladies joined me and showed me how to navigate and choose nice places.<\/p>\n

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A photo posted by Sofia Gk (@sofiagk)<\/a> on

Non stop city<\/h4>\n

Istanbul must be the original non stop city<\/strong>. I’ve never been in a place that is constantly so full of people and busy. We are talking building works at 1.30 in the morning, taking double the time to get somewhere because of the traffic, bumping into people ALL the time.<\/p>\n

And it’s not just that. The shops (at least in the more… traditional parts) are bursting at the seams<\/strong>, products spilling out onto the street, merchants looking on, assistants running up and down, customers asking questions, all at a dizzying speed, with thousands of colours and smells. The effect is fascinating and exhausting in equal measures.<\/p>\n

I’m very interested\u00a0in the history and the “why” it all works the way it works. I’m currently reading Constantinople: City of the World’s Desire, 1453-1924<\/a> by Philip Mansel – a great read. But for more literary versions I really love the Museum of Innocence<\/a> by Orhan Pamuk – excellent “atmosphere” book. His\u00a0Istanbul<\/a>, is on my to-read list. (If you know any good books about the city let me know).<\/p>\n

How the geography works<\/h4>\n

You will hear people talking about the European side, the Asian side, the bridges, the Golden horn and all sorts of things that can easily make no sense until you see them.\u00a0 Here’s some things I kept in mind that helped:<\/p>\n

Europe vs. Asia<\/em>: BIG body of water separates them – the Bosphorus (not to be confused with the Golden Horn.<\/p>\n

Old Town aka Fatih<\/em>: European side, where all the sights and museums like Hagia Sophia and the Old Mosque are. Separated by the new(er) town by the Golden Horn.<\/p>\n

Golden Horn<\/em>: Inlet of the Bosphorus, separates Fatih from the other European side of the City,<\/p>\n

New(er) European Side<\/em>: Where the neighbourhoods of Beyoglu, Besiktas etc. are as well as Taksim and Galata Tower.<\/p>\n

Bridges on the Golden Horn<\/em>: Atat\u00fcrk Bridge , Galata Bridge (and two more but you’ll probably not cross em).<\/p>\n

Bridges on the Bosphorus<\/em>: Bosphorus Bridge (duh) and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (suspended and incredibly impressive)<\/p>\n

The sights\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Seriously, it was IMPOSSIBLE to see everything. We managed a\u00a0few – for which you can find ample info on guide books but here is three stuff on each from me.<\/p>\n

Hagia Sophia<\/a>\u00a0– complicated<\/strong>, too loved by the Greeks, impressive.<\/p>\n

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The Blue Mosque. There are no words to describe this miracle. #istanbul #bluemosque #sultanahmetcamii<\/a> A photo posted by Sofia Gk (@sofiagk) on