“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 Cafe in Fenerbahçe, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Our cat friend melted our hearts and chose my son as his new home with self-evident certainty.
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 largest and most famous of the Princes´ Islands, Büyükada. You’ll also experience a little bit of history as you will see a short video taken of a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride (Phaeton) with views of the nature and sea. Horses were swapped for environmentally friendly electric vehicles in 2020.
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 Marmara Sea, just a short ferry ride from the mainland. During the summer months, Princes´ Islands are a popular destination for a trip among tourists and Istanbulites alike. Whilst on the islands you can easily leave the chaos of Istanbul behind and enjoy the stunning seascapes in the middle of nature. So now, come with me on a ferry trip to the Marmara Sea and the Princes’ Islands!
Istanbul guide for beginners
When we plan a trip, we hope to find as much information as possible about our destination – preferably even as easily as possible. As the information is often fragmented, I have compiled in this post both important general information about Istanbul as well as a variety of tips for your visit. In this post you will also find practical information about everyday life for your trip, for example, tips for the ways to commute in Istanbul. And please remember, I will publish new stories about the oriental wonders of dazzling Istanbul on my blog every month.
Crazy Kadıköy
A warm welcome to spend a colorful day with me in Kadıköy! But watch out, after the lively atmosphere, smells, tastes and mood of Kadıköy, your life may never taste the same again. Because your heart will miss this Asian sweet spice called Kadıköy, that’s guaranteed. So you may have to come back soon…
Different areas of Istanbul
Now that in my previous posts you have landed on your flight to Istanbul and are also familiar with the city’s traffic culture, in this post I will tell you a little bit about the different areas of Istanbul. And also about the structure of how different areas are formed. This will help you both navigate and find areas and places that interest you.
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 around the city with different means of transportation – exactly the kind of tips I would have appreciated during my first visits. After all, in Istanbul you can only speak English in the tourist area, so all the possible tips will be worth their weight in gold on your expeditions to explore this interesting metropolis.
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 information about them anyway. But one of the palaces is close to my heart because of its special beauty, colors and versatility. And also because it is closely related to my grandchild’s ancestry. So welcome to Beylerbeyi Palace, to the summer residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire!
’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 entering a luxury cosmetics store only for it to turn out to be a luxury butcher shop? That’s exactly what happened to me, and now I’m going to tell you about this uniquely visual, friendly and tasteful place.
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? In addition to the peaceful nature of this countryside, there is also a surprising historical dimension. So welcome to a nature holiday in Istanbul, the village of Polonezköy!