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My thanks – my blog ends with a broken heart, lessons from everyday life in Istanbul, and hope
Now we speak about something I’ve never discussed on my blog before. Or rather, something I’ve remained silent about. But

Safely to high-quality medical care in Istanbul
Are you looking for high-quality and safe medical treatment or surgery in Istanbul? In this post, I will give you

Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) – an iconic symbol of Istanbul
Galata Tower is one of the key structures defining Istanbul’s skyline. It is considered one of the world’s oldest towers

Tünel – the world’s second oldest underground railway
A one-way trip on Istanbul’s historic, 150-year-old Tünel subway takes less than two minutes, and there is only one route

Viktor Levi Şarap Evi – a historic and green wine restaurant
As you wander through the Kadıköy-Moda area on the Asian side, you can’t help but notice the charm of Viktor

Charming and captivating Moda
You will find Moda, a charming neighborhood surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, in Kadıköy district. Moda’s small streets will

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) – a sacred masterpiece of architectural history
Despite my lack of religious faith, Hagia Sophia represents sanctity to me – in addition to its history and beauty.

Balat – international history and unpretentious splashes of creativity
Balat is different. It’s not just another neighborhood among many. It tells you about life in a way that may

Road trip from Istanbul to the turquoise Aegean coast
What if you combined the grandeur of history with the beauty of seaside landscapes on your journey? We drove from

İstanbul Modern – modern art in many different ways
The modern and contemporary art museum, İstanbul Modern, surprised me pleasantly with its diversity and stunning location. The range of

Food – part 2: delicacies, pastries and desserts
I can promise you that this post is guaranteed to be sweet. And furthermore, I can assure you that if

Food – Part 1: everyday food culture, top restaurants and traditional street food
The delicious flavors of Turkish food culture are renowned worldwide. In this post, I am delighted to guide you to

Christmas at the St. Anthony Catholic Church (Sent Antuan Katolik Kilisesi)
In Istanbul, it is said that the St. Anthony Catholic Church is so significant and important that it is impossible

Street animals in Istanbul – homes and food
I have already mentioned before that Istanbulites love and respect all animals – without limits. Even after years, I cannot

Freedom Park (Özgürlük Parkı) – a diverse and verdant oasis
The megacity of Istanbul is a green, active, sporting, artistic, and even child-friendly city, as long as you venture beyond

Istanbul’s shopping malls – paradises for the modern shopper
While Istanbul is a unique city, particularly due to its location and history, it is by no means just about

Sirkeci – the terminus of the Orient Express
When you are on the European side of Istanbul, you can hardly miss the historic Sirkeci railway station (Sirkeci Garı),

Residential construction – part 2: yards of apartment buildings
In my previous post, you were introduced to the architecture of modern apartment buildings in Istanbul. Now, in this second

Residential construction – part 1: contemporary architecture in Istanbul
In my blog, I have promised to describe everyday life in Istanbul, so now in this two-part post we will

Warm thanks to the readers & supporters of my blog!
I just found out that my blog had 350 readers last month, so it’s time to express my heartfelt gratitude

Sakıp Sabancı Museum – an enchanting experience with its versatility
Calling the Sakıp Sabancı Museum just a museum gives a far too narrow picture of this unique place. First of

Restaurant Pandeli – Istanbul’s culinary icon and historical ”pearl”
In my previous post, I introduced you to the bazaars of Istanbul. In this post, you will discover the “hidden

Bazaars of Istanbul – exuding history and the colors of life
During your visit to Istanbul, the bazaars are, of course, an obvious experience that you must encounter. They are full

Bosphorus Cruise – experience the most beautiful Istanbul
If you only have the chance to explore one place during your visit, I definitely recommend this one: go cruising

Encounters with street animals
In this post, the credit goes to the animals. From this photo collection of encounters, you surely can feel the

Restaurant Villa Bosphorus – a visual feast with delicacies of the sea
When you fancy the most delicious food, the best service, the most beautiful restaurant and the most charming view, head

The sandy beaches of Istanbul
I am often asked: “where can you swim in Istanbul?” This is a complicated question, to which you will probably

”Heartbeat can change the world” – Metin Hara
In this post, I am pleased to introduce to you Istanbul’s new age dervish, Metin Hara. Appreciating his particularly extensive

Kuzguncuk – ”The sweet delicacy of Istanbul”
In this post I’ll introduce one of my favorite neighborhoods, Kuzguncuk, for which I’ve given the nickname “sweet delicacy”. This

“When he chose me” at Happy Moon’s Cafe
This is the story of a touching encounter with a street cat at one of our favorite restaurants, Happy Moon’s

Princes´ Islands (Adalar) – part 2: Büyükada
Since the pictures speak more than a thousand words, in this post I will tell mainly through photos about the

Princes´ Islands (Adalar) – part 1
The Princes´ Islands (Adalar) are like a special treasure of Istanbul. They are a scenic and peaceful retreat in the

Istanbul guide for beginners
When we plan a trip, we hope to find as much information as possible about our destination – preferably even

Crazy Kadıköy
A warm welcome to spend a colorful day with me in Kadıköy! But watch out, after the lively atmosphere, smells,

Welcome to be amazed: The Rahmi M. Koç Museum (Rahmi M. Koç Müzesi)
Perhaps a little surprisingly, I will introduce an industrial museum as the first museum in Istanbul. Although I have visited

Different areas of Istanbul
Now that in my previous posts you have landed on your flight to Istanbul and are also familiar with the

Ways to commute – part 2: public transport in Istanbul
In this post, I’ll tell you about public transport in Istanbul, and give you practical tips to help you get

Ways to commute – part 1: ´Istanbul Airport´ (İstanbul Havalimanı)
As I write this, Turkish society has reopened since the pandemic eased. Let´s hope that the situation will remain good

Beylerbeyi Palace (Beylerbeyi Sarayı) – the summer residence of the sultans
I am not particularly interested in writing about the palaces of Istanbul, because you will already find a lot of

’The Istanbul Butcher’ – friendly, luxurious and good quality
Istanbul always manages to surprise you; for example, have you ever, on the basis of a shop window, thought of

Polonezköy – nature holiday in Istanbul Province
Did you know that less than an hour’s drive from the center of Istanbul you can find a scenic oasis?

Do you miss the captivating lively street life of Istanbul?
In these different and difficult pandemic times, we have not been able to normally enjoy the bustling and wild street

Istanbul Cable Car, Pierre Loti Hill & Turku Funicular, Kakolanmäki
In both cities of the seven hills, Istanbul and Turku, you will find one hill, the top of which you

Rumi (Mevlâna) and Sufism in Istanbul: Galata Mevlevi Museum (Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi)
Rumi is my important “teacher” in every day of my life. Therefore I had to think carefully about how could

Cezayir Street (Cezayir Sokağı)
Even in these difficult times we can’t always travel, we still have a chance to enjoy great places via internet.

The seascapes of Istanbul – part 2: Asia
This post is a continuation for my first post about the seascapes of Istanbul, where I told you about the

The seascapes of Istanbul – part 1: Europe and the Princes´ Islands
There are no words to fully describe the beauty of Istanbul’s seascapes, so this post will consist mostly of photos

A rental apartment from Istanbul skyscraper
In this post I’m talking about something as mundane as renting an apartment in Istanbul. There are a wide range

Modern Istanbul – skyscrapers & Istanbul Sapphire
Although we mostly know Istanbul for its dazzling history, Istanbul is also very modern and international city. The silhouette of

Istanbul in the eyes of Erasmus intern
My sons use sometimes questionable but still sweet nicknames of me: a fossil and a dinosaur. For a grandmother like

Pera Palace Hotel – The heart of Pera (the historical name of Beyoğlu)
When my steps took me to Pera Palace Hotel for the first time, I wondered why our family’s second grandma,

Istanbul cats – from cat hater to cat lover
Istanbul will not give you any options, you will become a cat lover. It is useless to argue, it is

10 most interesting and best things in Istanbul
Naturally the history is by far the best thing in Istanbul, and you can read basic information about it from

Istanbul and Turku – the seven hills cities
Both cities, Istanbul and Turku, are my loved ones. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I have