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 and we will begin to enjoy traveling again. In this first part of my ´Ways to Commute´ -posts, I will tell you about Istanbul´s new airport (in part 2, I will tell you about the public transport in Istanbul). Despite its large size, the airport is a pleasant, easy, and friendly airport – and even visually charming. So let’s land in Istanbul – a warm welcome!
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 life of the cities. Everything has fallen silent. Do you miss the lively urban vibe as much as I do? Luckily, technology can help us and enable us to once again experience together the unique atmosphere of the streets in Istanbul. Please join me for this joy, let´s feel the music and dance together!
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 can reach using other methods than walking or driving by car. You can travel to Istanbul’s Pierre Loti Hill (Pierre Loti Tepesi) by cable car and Turku’s Kakolanmäki by funicular. Have you experienced either these means of transportation? And do you know the history of these hills? Do you know what you will find at the tops of these hills today?
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 I bring this topic up with sufficient respect. I was grateful to have the opportunity to share this great wisdom of Rumi with the letters of the book of my another important teacher Erkki Lehtiranta: “Tien päällä ja taivaan alla”. In this post, we’ll also visit the Galata Mevlevi Museum in Beyoğlu, where Istanbul offers you an experience of this mystical and deep wisdom of Rumi as well as Sufism.
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. Let me present to you “the candy of Istanbul”. It is like a hidden treasure not even known to all people of Istanbul. If you are inspired by colors, lights, music and lovely décor, welcome to Cezayir Street to Beyoğlu!
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 – after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. We have a positive problem i.e. there are too many beautiful seascapes in Istanbul, so I had to divide my post into two parts. In this post, you will see the seascapes of Europe and the Princes´ Islands (in part 2, I will present the seascapes of Asia).
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 has been transformed in recent years by skyscrapers built around the city, featuring versatile businesses as well as homes.
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, Zeynep, wanted to show me a hotel. What interesting things we could find in a hotel when we had whole Istanbul in front of our eyes? I couldn’t have been more wrong!