Istanbul 2001 - Istanbul 2002 - Istanbul 2010 - Istanbul 2012 - Istanbul 2013 - Kinali 2013 - Istanbul 2019
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
My favorite mosque in Istanbul was built in the 15th century by Mimar Sinan. The legend goes that he was in love with the daughter of Sultan Suleyman [Kanuni] and Hurrem Sultan and built it without a royal decree to honor her. The official Mihrimah Sultan Mosque is in Uskudar. The one above, in Edirnekapi, that we loved is an engineering and architectural masterpiece with 161 windows and a very slim minaret. PBS has a wonderful documentary that mentions this mosque.
We visited the mosque on a cold and windy day and loved both the architecture and the surroundings.
We were in Istanbul for an RC reunion, and stayed at what we think is the best hotel in Istanbul. Kempinski - Ciragan Palace. The view alone from our room was breathtaking. Here are a few samples.
We also went to Kinali for a family visit to Odette and Talin and to Etiler to see Ayse.
Kinali
Etiler - View from Ayse's house
We went to Istanbul, and stayed in Kinali with Odette. Hot, sweltering and unbelievably humid. It would not have been fun had it not been for Talin, who made everything easy for us.
Here is the family ....
The Bosphorus from Barbaros Blvd.
Arek enjoying Odette's house...
More pictures of the trip at Arek 2010-08
2012 March visit has its own page.
2013 August
We arrived in Istanbul pretty late, as we had reservations there we went to the Airport Hotel at IST and stayed there - another one of my favorite hotels in Turkey. Clean, modern and very convenient. The next morning our car picked us up and we went to visit Soorp Nigoghos [St. Nicholas] Armenian church at Topkapi. This is the church dad used to take us every summer before we embarked on our car trip to England or to Portugal and sometimes to both. Unfortunately, with the dwindling number of Armenians in Turkey the church was open only on Sundays. So we took some pictures and left. I was a little disappointed but what can one do - c'est la vie.
A quick visit to Mısır Çarşısı [The Spice Bazaar] and the Eminönü Mosque
and then off to Kinali to visit Odette and cousins.
Family, friends and other Impressions
AnneMarie and Asli at Eminönü
The Golden Horn from Eminonü [above left] and the saddest sight on earth [above right]. Little school girls dressed in clothes not even fathomed 40 years ago.
Shopping in Istanbul
... in the Spice Bazaar
... in underground passages full of stores
... at fishmongers, lokum sellers, olive merchants and chestnut roasters
... and shopping at Turkish style 'Home Depot's [below]
Ferry ride from Kadıköy to Beşiktaş and a visit to the Naval Museum
Kız kulesi and the Dolmabahçe Palace [below]
The modesty of Ataturk on display: No gold, no crystal chandeliers, no excess. His bedroom on board the yacht Ertuğrul [below]
No one seems to be eating dinner at home in Istanbul. Streets are full of neighborhood restaurants and they all are busy.
Dinner in Moda chez nos cousins
Kırlangıç balığı - translation says "gurnard" but the picture doesn't quite match, and a dessert made of quince - Ayva Tatlısı
