Istanbul

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A March 2007 trip to Istanbul by ruby43

Blue Mosque from a distanceMore Photos

Istanbul, Turkey...where Western Europe and Asia meet.

  • 8 reviews
  • 15 photos

Hotel NenaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel Nena'"

We stayed in a smaller hotel on a side street in Istanbul. It was a family owned old home converted into a hotel. The service was excellent, food good, and they had a roof top dining area with a terrace to enjoy on nice days. The rooms were simple, but had everything needed. The decor was typical of the area, with embroidered tulips on many things, even linens, because one of the Sultans back in history loved tulips, they were his favorite flower. The rooms and hotel were traditional for the area. They had a bar, lounge, outside covered patio downstairs...and they provided a mini bar, laundry services, room service, and transportation if you wanted them. We were being thrifty, but the services were available.

The hotel personnel were very helpful in providing exchange money for Lira, Euros, or American...when needed. They also assisted in setting us up with local tours when we wanted. Rather than setting it up ahead of time with some sort of package deal, we saved money by just waiting until we were there and allowing the personnel help us when we decided to go on a tour. It was a good experience.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on September 15, 2007

Hotel Nena
Binbirdirek Mah. Klodfarer Cad. No: 8/10 34122 Sultanahmet, Turkey 34122
+90 (212) 5165264

Grand BazaarBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Grand Bazaar"

The Grand Bazaar is a flurry of activity. Locals selling food, hand made crafts, jewelry, clothing, anything you can think of. I am told it actually has about 4,000 little shops altogether, so it really needs to be a couple days well planned to see it all. It has amenities such as restrooms, postal services, places to eat, etc; all under this magnificent cover. It can be overwhelming, but a must-see just to experience. Some places will bargain with prices, others will not. We had a new set of wedding rings made in a local jewelry store since gold is a good buy over there. We were able to order it and go back and pick it up a couple days later. The colors, sights, sounds, culture and smells were amazing. There is a spice bazaar as well filled with any imaginable spice, incense, or fragrance you may want. Istanbul is full of bazaars and markets tucked in alleys and under buildings that have been converted into marketplaces. Of course, one of the main types of merchandise is rugs and carpets, which are sold everywhere from a corner store, to a more upscale businesses, and in the bazaars. It is a definite must see for something different.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 28, 2007

Grand Bazaar
Kalpakcilarbasi Street Istanbul, Turkey

Bosphorus CruiseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Bosphorus Sea separates the East and the West. The Bosphorus Cruise can be all day or half a day. The sights are amazing along the Bosphorus. There are old palaces, fortresses, rich homes, commerce ships, and the big bridge that connects the East and West. Many opportunities for video and photographs of the area. A must see and do if in Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 28, 2007

Bosphorus Cruise
Istanbul Harbour Istanbul, Turkey

Bus TourBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Bus Tour around the City of Istanbul"

sightseeing
Crazy! There are no rules when driving in Istanbul. Many older streets are very narrow, and parking is very limited. The growth of the population and city has not been accommodated by traffic needs. There is turning, passing, and driving within inches of other drivers. It is actually pretty scary, but interesting nonetheless. It was like a ride at an amusement park or thrill ride. It is, however, a great way to see much of the city and people you might not get to otherwise.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 28, 2007

Bus Tour
Istanbul, Turkey

Blue MosqueBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Blue Mosque from a distance
The Blue Mosque is a main attraction in Istanbul. It can be seen from many points of the city. It has more minarets than most due to the Sultan and what it represents. There are tours through the mosque during certain times of the day, and women are preferred to have their heads covered if during prayer time. Call to prayer is five times a day. It it full of hand made tiles from the Isnik region, well known to many. The atmosphere is peaceful, and the architecture is amazing. Inside there are prayer rugs pointed facing Mecca. It is an active mosque where worship and prayer occur regularly.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 29, 2007

Hagia SophiaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Hagia Sofia"

A part of architecture, not Sofia Hagia
This is an old church/mosque that is now a museum. This particular church was a Christian church at one time, and reflects the frescoes and tiled portraits from that time. It was then converted to a mosque at another time in it's history, and the pictures and frescoes were covered due to the belief and practices of the religion. It was eventually made a museum because of its history and beauty, and apparently was done so because the interested parties no longer wanted to fight over whether it remain a church or a mosque. It is a must-see.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 29, 2007

Hagia Sophia
Sultanahmet Square Istanbul, Turkey
+90 212 528 4500

Topkapi PalaceBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Nearby Tokapi
This is a beautiful palace that was the home of one of the Sultan's and his entire family and those who worked for him. It is huge. The grounds are being beautified and restored continuously. There are some areas inside that contain relics of the royal family, such as swords, dinnerware, clothing, furniture...that are under security due to the magnificence of the items. Some of them are pure gold, and precious gemstones of many colors. It is a true sign of the royalty and how well off they were. An amazing site to see. Many "ooh's" and "aah's" in here. Unimaginable wealth.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on June 29, 2007

Bosphorus CruiseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

While in Istanbul, a must do is the Bosphorus cruise. It takes about and hour, or you can pick half day cruises or full day cruises. The trip is taken on a "sea bus" or "ferry" which is one of the main means of transport there due to the commute from one side to the other of Istanbul for many locals. On a nice day, the cruise takes you all along the cost on both sides of the Bosphorus sea. Sights include many castles, forts, mosques...as well as ships and harbors of the Maritime Industry. You can also get a glimpse of some of the "more well-to-do" areas where the rich and wealthy have homes. It also takes you under the huge bridge that divides the European side from the Asian side. I don't have any photos, because I shot video the whole time, but it is a beautiful way to see another part of Istanbul.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ruby43 on September 15, 2007

Bosphorus Cruise
Istanbul Harbour Istanbul, Turkey

About the Writer

ruby43
ruby43
North Charleston, South Carolina

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