Saturday, July 31, 2010

Shopping and eating in Istanbul


Istanbul do have a vast range of shops and bazars. The most famous is of course The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı, meaning Covered Bazaar)), which I wrote about in a former post. Other famous shopping areas are Nişantaşı and İstiklâl Cadessi on the European side. Here most tourists do their shopping.

Well there are alternatives
We did shop were the locals live on the Asian side: Bağdat Caddesi (Baghdad Avenue) in the suburb named Kadiköy and the district of Erenköy. Here you find all the famous international brands with their own shops as well as Turkish Brands. Just like in all major cities.
Trafikk - Asia 1 - C 
Follow the signs from the European side when you have cossed “Hasans bridge” (The Bosphoros Bridge - 1. Boğaziçi Köprüsü”) in the direction of  Kadiköy.
Erenköy  IMG_2903 Avenue
Bağdat Caddesi
is a one way drive from south to north. 
This is not what I had imagined an avenue in Istanbul…
Erenköy  IMG_2904 Sidewalk
Sidewalk at Bagdat Cadessi. Is this really Asia?Erenköy  IMG_2906 Crossing small street 
Ingelin and Anna crossing a small street. Marmara Sea at the end of the street.
Erenköy  IMG_2901 shopping 
The Ladies went shopping. Luckely for papa, they did find what they wanted in the same shop (Moda of Turkey). Papa and grandson had to wait for more than a hour. In between papa as well found some Jeans and T-Shirts;-) Guess the ladies were surprised…
Erenköy  IMG_2910 Lunchtime Erenköy  IMG_2912 Luch for ML and parents
Lunch at Midpoint - Erenköy - Istanbul Erenköy  IMG_2908 Water and fresh lemonade
Shopping also means: Time for Lunch. At least Metin Leander was hungry. Turkish food are delicous. And healthy as long as you stay away from Turkish Delights. LOL.

More food and other stories from Istanbul and Turkey to come…

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Istanbul surprise for the Family - travel report

My regular readers might remember my daughter Ingelin and Kaya got a Son on October 25 last year.
ML-Sunset in Bodrum
They gave him the name Metin Leander - which means "Strong as a Lion".
Zeynep and ML in Haghia Sophia 
Metin Leanders grandmother Zeynep, Kaya's mother,  is born in Istanbul. Here they are together in Haghia Sophia.
Guess the surprise, when she and the rest of the Famliy realized this fact:
Kabatas - Leander Tower 
The Leander Tower.
Yes, rigth there just offshore on a tiny Island at the Asian part of Istanbul where the Marmara Sea and the  Bosphorus meets. It was first buildt in 408 BC.

Today, there is a restaurant in the first floor and a café at the top of the tower. And as far as we know, even a Night Club. A Family surprise.
Well,  in short we can say:
Hasans Bridge over Bosphoros - C 
Hasan's Bridge – in the center of the Photo.












And on top of the Pudding: Zeynep's building
Leander Tower - C
and as well Leander's Tower photographed from Hasan's appartement with view over Bosporus and Marmara Sea, means:

Family "rules" Istanbul or Miklagard as the old Vikings used to name this ancient metropol ;)
We have had lot's of fun regarding these "facts" also that East meets West and our kids, the Parents of Metin Leander met in Hong Kong. Small Planet;)
We hope they would live in a peaceful and prosperous world. Wherever they will settle.
So says all their Parents.

More to come from Byzantium….
.... What your will never find in a commercial Tourist Guide - just for friends only

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Friday, July 23, 2010

A Visit to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

From my previous post, you might remember we went from the Asian part of Istanbul to the European.
Bazaar entry
We were heading for The Grand Bazaar which was constructed between 1455 and 1461.
One of the Worlds biggest indoor markets.

Zeynep as our wondeful hostess and driver and guide and grandma to Metin Leander, my daughter Ingelin, Anna and me.
Istanbul is a metropolis -  a megacity, spreading over two continents – Asia and Europe.
Parking at Kabotas
Good then to go with Zeynep, who knows where to park the Car.
Istanbul Tram at Kabotas 
And where to take the modern Tram (Street Car) to the Grand Bazaar.

Nine stops crossing the Golden Horn.
And also learn how to pay for the ride.
All about Trams in Istanbul here

Bazar entre 
We went from Kabataş to Kapalı Çarşı - The Grand Bazaar.  Anna and Zeynep are close to enter
.Bazar - it is large
Grand Bazaar in Beyazit, on the European side of Istanbul, is one of the City's greatest tourism attractions, and you do not need to buy anything. You only look, if you prefere;)
Bazar - Metin Leander and Grandma
It's like walking around in a modern Shopping Mall, but the Shops are smaller and private owned. Above you see Grandma with Grandson. He was perhaps the greatest attraction that Day;)
Bazar interior
You can find allmost everything here (no fashion of any kind, that will be in an other post):
Bazar - Carpets 
New and antique jewellery, inlaid woodwork furniture, textiles and embroidery, metalware, lamps, carpets and more can all be found beneath the covered alleyways.
Bazar - Ingelin and Anna had to bargain
Bazar - shopping silver
Try and bargain. Do not look to eager. Like Anna and Ingelin;)
Bazar Boybeyi 
It's very well organized in the sense that all shops selling the same type of goods are located in the same alley. In the middle of the Bazaar you find the above “advertizing” for Boybeyi Jewellery
.Bazar - look at the ceilings
The Grand Bazaar is huge and crowed. No fixed prices, so you have to bargain. The quality of the goods varies, so you should know how to distinct the genuine from the fake.
Bazar - Papa and Grandson having a Rest ML-IMG_2985
We needed a rest as well, all of us. It was many new and strange impressions. Not at least for Metin Leander, 8 months and 10 Days. And more crowed than we Vikings are used to… from 250,000 to 400,000 visitors a day.
Bazars - Lamps 
No visit to an oriental bazaar without seeing  a Lamp;)
What will be your 3 wishes?

About The Grand Bazaar

Can you buy Taxfree?
Some Shops offer Taxfree: 18% off. Present the merchandise and receipt to The Customs Tax-Free office at the airport in Istanbul, located in the International Departure Terminal, is opened 24 hours a day. Do not sign any papers you can not understand when you buy, others than related directly to your Credit Card receipt.


Summary
For me it was a great tourist attraction well worth visiting. It gives an insight in historical oriental markets and sales and buying behaviours.  Not very unlike modern shoppings malls exept for the lack of fixed prices, sales, A/C, Parking lots and Fast Food.
If you are a skilled shopper, I’m sure you will find treasures here.


















Grandson Metin Leander did a great performance. He charmed everybody.

More to come....

PS. Photos from Oslo you have never thought about

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Connecting Asia and Europe

My dears readers, we are back to Istanbul again.
You know we were there for some fabulous time in the first half of July this year.  I will mix text and Photos as we drive from Asia to Europe. All Photos taken from inside the Car.
From Asia to Europe 1 
Istanbul means a lot for my Daughters Family. For us as well. Her Mother in Law was born in Istanbul.  She and her Husband met there and this year celebrated 40 years of marriage. She is an artist painter, and we hope to return to Istanbul in October to see her new exhibition.
From Asia to Europe 2 
But Istanbul is more than very old and famous history to Ingelin’s very great family:
From Asia to Europe 3
Her Father in Law and the Bogazici Köprûsû or the Bosphorus Bridge was finnished on October 29 in 1973 on the 50th anniversary of the Turkey Republic. Lenght: 1.074 m or 3.524 feet.
From Asia to Europe 4 Bridge
Believe it or not: Ingelin’s parents in law met there. Hasan was in charge for the construction. That’s why the Family call it “Hasan’s Bridge”.
From Asia to Europe - Bosporus 
With other words, we are talking about a historical Family lines: 
Even the Vikings where here 200 years before the cruisades. (Bysantz and Constantinopel)
(Proof will come). Here you see the Bosporus  from South to North.
From Asia to Europe - Europe next
The Asian and European Connection – still allive. Thanks to Ingelin and Kaya that met in Hong Kong, where they both did work some years ago.
From Asia to Europe - this is Europe 
As Zeynep says: Born in Istanbul, but anxiestors from all over.  Who has not? Why then dispute about nationality? We are all mixed up as humans..
Well my dear readers, this was just a short trip from Asia to Europe crossing “Hasan’s” Bridge.  So we say it in our Family.

Can you believe, after looking  at the Photos above: 13 Millions are living in this City?

More from Istanbul to come, so stay tuned…
I can tell you more if you join this live event.

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Short report from Summer House south of Oslo

e returned from Turkey last Monday afternoon. (More reports will come).  But I thought Family and blogger friends should see how it is here at 60 degrees North right now:
Flowers at Summer House
Flowers
Green pepper
Green Pepper
Rosa and Felicia on the Rest Room Roof
Rosa and Felicia stays on the Roof before Dinner-Time.
Niklas fixed the outdoor Stair
Niklas fixed the Stair in a very short Time. He is after all a profesionall.
Sebastian on the Roof
Sebastian as well on the Roof
Tour de France
We are all here very fans of Tour de France. Every afternoon local time, we follows  the Norwegian TV2. They really have proffessional comentators. And still a Norwegian are in lead for Maillot Verte: Thor Hushovd.
China Checkar - papa had the Green and Yellow
Anna and Sölvi did play China Checkar. Papa had to be a part of the Game Twice. We played with two colours each.  The Results?Papa won twice. Tried his best to avoid the fact, but in vain…
Norwegian Jungle
Can you imagine how steep it is?
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
Marias nye båt
Maria’s boat
Seb loves to sleep in here
Sebastian loves to sleep here..
Niklas in the Sailboat
Niklas 
Wild Rasberries
The best of all:
Wild Rasberries. Wooow.


This is all from the Summer House right now.
Papa will bring you soon back to Turkey and more adventures….
Hope you enjoyed a moment of Summer Life here in Norway.
See you soon?

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