We were standing under Galata Tower, a 14th century gem perched on the hill of Beyoğlu, a district in the European side of Istanbul. South we headed, where an even more ancient landmark emerged from afar, on top on Seraglio Point. Hagia Sophia, once the largest cathedral in the world, prominently overlooked the city with another great monument standing to the west – the Blue Mosque.
We ventured back across the Golden Horn, through Galata Bridge, to get to the lavishly decorated and almost fairytale-esque Dolmabahçe Palace where the world’s biggest and heaviest chandelier embellished the Grand Ceremonial Hall.
Across the fabled Bosphorus, the more down-to-earth neighborhood of Üsküdar provided the tranquility we needed from the constant bustle of the city’s European districts. The Maiden’s Tower sat elegantly at the end of the narrow strait before it opened up into the Sea of Marmara. Nearby, a small billboard depicted the Marmaray, a mega-project to better connect the European and Asian sides of Istanbul through the world’s deepest immersed tube tunnel.
Everywhere we went, Istanbul seemed to keep proving itself as a city of superlatives and contradictions.
* * *
Ten months have passed since that wonderful trip to Istanbul in winter. Some treasured memories remain while others have started to fade. But in the past week so many things have reminded me of Turkey. From the pictures a friend of mine uploaded on Facebook from his trip to Cappadoccia, to a comment from a Turkish blogger mentioning the exotic corners of his country, to the documentary I watched on the giant heads of Mount Nemrut in Turkey’s southeast.
All of this prompted me to sift once more through my photos of Istanbul – that magical, ancient crossroads – and share these pictures that have previously gone unpublished.
Amazing photos, I hope you like Istanbul. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Thanks! I did enjoy my visit to Istanbul and cannot wait to go back in the future! 🙂
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Wow certainly an enchanting city. It’s on my wish list and wish to come and see this beauty that everyone’s been bragging about! Great post Bama!
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Thanks Aggy! Well, I published better pictures of the city in my posts earlier this year. But I couldn’t resist myself from looking up my collections again and share some more to my readers, including you! 🙂 You should go there. Chances are…it won’t disappoint.
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Bama, thanks for sharing more snapshots from your January trip. My favourites are the scenes of daily life including the friendly dog and cats. Istanbul looks like such a lovely place in winter – just imagine how beautiful it would be covered in snow!
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My pleasure James! The cats and dogs in Istanbul were some of the friendliest and fluffiest that I’ve ever met. I still think that you would enjoy Istanbul as much as I did. It must be even more magical to see the city covered in snow!
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great pictures om bama, topp!!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Definitely adding Istanbul to our bucket list after seeing your beautiful pics
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I’m glad you decided so, because it is one of those cities that you have to visit at least once. 🙂 Thanks Rif & Imaan!
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Thank you for the beautiful photos! It reminded me of my time in Istanbul 🙂
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My pleasure! I’m glad this post reminded you of your great moment in Istanbul.
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The sunset shot is my pick from your marvelous gallery Bama. I know how hard it is to get Istanbul out of your mind 🙂
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Thanks Madhu! It is really hard, indeed. 🙂 What fascinated me (and still does) the most is the rich history of the city itself.
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I had sweet memories there, at Topkapi Palace (but I didn’t see the picture here 😦 )…I love their apple tea, hallawa, dried apricot,pistachios…I love Istanbul.
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You can actually read my post on the Ottoman palaces here: https://harindabama.com/2013/02/17/grand-palaces-of-the-ottomans/
Hopefully it will bring back some good memories from your visit to the city. 🙂 And yes, apple tea is one of the things I miss about Istanbul.
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The world is still a wonderful place 🙂
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Despite all the madness, the world is indeed an amazing place.
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Stunning photos. I would love to visit Istanbul. Sounds like it was an amazing trip.
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Thanks Andrea! It was indeed an amazing trip. I think it’s easy to fall in love with the city. The history, the marvelous ancient buildings, the colorful bazaars, the food, the people…everything. 🙂
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Ah, Bama – beautiful captures of some of the many moods of this incredible city – takes me back – how I loved that city and delighted in every moment we had there, living in our van in the carpark of the Blue Mosque, shopping in the bazaar, wandering the neighbourhoods.
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Thanks Meredith! Wow, you stayed in a van? How adventurous you were! 🙂 I’m not surprised to see why many people loved their visit to the city. It is truly a wonderful place to be…getting lost in the bazaars, being amazed by the grand architectural designs, indulging in the food. I would go back in a heartbeat!
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Iri tingkat tinggi.. I will go there one day 🙂
lovely cats and dogs btw!
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🙂 Don’t be! You will get there sooner than later. Plus, Indonesian citizens do not need to arrange a visa in advance to visit the country.
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True.. we can use their VoA. *nabung tambah kenceng*
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Same here. 🙂
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nice picture and story 🙂
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Thanks Johanes! 🙂
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I always, always love to see images from a city I am so proud to have once called home. Thanks for this post.
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My pleasure Emily! My visit to Istanbul was even more memorable than Shamian Island. However, I can say you’re very lucky to be able to live in such exotic places! 🙂
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Wow! Such a fascinating city. Just wondering, is Istanbul an Islamic state?
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Istanbul is in Turkey, which is a predominantly-Muslim secular country.
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Reblogged this on milamoki.
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Beautiful photos, I need to see this city!
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Thanks! You definitely need to go to Istanbul. It’s an amazing city, indeed.
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love the pics! i’ve been meaning to go to Stambul but haven’t done it till now. your post made me want to go now! 😉
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Thank you! There’s no reason to wait. 🙂
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Beautiful! Because of difficult circumstances, the only time me and my boyfriend can be together is during the summers in turkey. This took me back to all these amazing places where we always go to sit and watch everything happening around us. Thank you for the lovely moment you just gave me:) great photographs btw!
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Thank you! I’m glad this post brings back some good memories to you. There are still more on Turkey, just look up all my posts under ‘Turkey’. I guess it would be amazing to be in the country during summer when the weather and sky are nice. Wish you more great time with your boyfriend!
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Thank you! I will check it out for sure. Keep up the creative work!
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Istanbul memang kota yg menarik, mas. Perpaduan Barat dan Timur. Masuk wishlist! Ditunggu share budget-nya 😀
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Yup, betul banget. Soal budget, karena trip ke Istanbul ini bagian dari company outing jadi sebagian dananya disubsidi kantor. 🙂
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Enak bangeeettt! Emang kerja di perusahaan apa, Mas?
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Di salah satu people development consultant. 🙂
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What a beautiful post! I’m looking forward to following your blog 🙂
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Thanks Lana! I’m glad you enjoyed reading my blog.
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Beautiful photos of Istanbul, Bama. I’m glad you shared them. Thanks for virtually taking me back to one of my favorite cities.
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Thanks Marisol! Apparently everyone who has been to Istanbul has some great memories of the city. It is truly one of those cities everyone needs to visit at least once.
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Love Istanbul, Turkish people are amazing, ve spent there one week or so. Best place in Istanbul? Galata Tower during Ramadan!!!
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Wow, I can imagine how wonderful it must be standing on the porch of the tower during Ramadan and looking at people below, preparing for breaking the fast. Is that what you saw? Btw, I love the header photo on your blog! Salar de Uyuni, I suppose?
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Yeah Solar de Uyuni..about Galata…square was full of people..drinking and eating… and all the suden police has arrived, thay said that the gathering is illegal and we have to go home, bla bla…an hour later they forced us to leave..so interesting
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Was it illegal because it’s Ramadan? If so, I never thought it would happen in a secular country like Turkey. Anyway, when I was on Galata Tower the wind blew really strongly with these snowflakes hitting my face. It was an interesting experience though.
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My turhish friends said it was first time, people were drinking beer, but everything was peaceful, anyway,this part of the city is amazing, just love it
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I just want to let you know that I love what you’ve done with your blog! I have wanted to visit Turkey for many years now and after what I read I want to go even more now! I also write a travel blog and I would love for you to check it out! 🙂 It’s dairi100.wordpress.com
Thank you and keep up the great blog posts!
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Thank you! I’ve only been to Istanbul and I would go back to Turkey in a heartbeat. There are so many wonderful places in the country, waiting to be explored.
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I cannot wait to visit one day! Would you mind if I shared this post on my travel blog?
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No, I don’t mind mind at all. Please do. 🙂 Thanks!
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Pingback: An Aftertaste of Istanbul | TRAVEL
On the top of our wishlist. Thanks for sharing this great post:)
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My pleasure! 🙂 Istanbul is a beautiful city, and I’m glad more and more people are putting it on their wishlists.
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What an amazing place! I grew up in the Northwest part of China where many Muslim minorities live there. People there have similar culture background as people in Istanbul. Love their Grand Bazaar! I will definitely visit this cultural hub of the historical Silk Road in the future~
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Thanks for visiting my blog! It’s really nice to know another blogger who grew up in that particular part of China where many Turkic people live. I imagine how much similar the culture is with that of Turkey’s or even Indonesia’s.
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Lovely photos, I am currently living in Istanbul… still need to see everything, I love it here though, although the hectic way of life took some getting used to!
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Thanks! When I was there last January one of my friends asked me if I thought I could live in Istanbul, because he said for him Istanbul is a nice city to explore but he wasn’t so sure about living there. But for me all the historical sites can make a good reason for actually living in the city. 🙂
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Lovely photos of Turkey … I think I should go there soon! 🙂
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Go there now, Timothy! As Indonesians don’t need to arrange visa in advance to go to Turkey. 🙂
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Wow, these pictures are absolutely beautiful! I hope to get the chance to explore Turkey soon… I’m determined to go even if another riot in Gezi Park breaks out. Thank you for the post 🙂
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My pleasure, Michelle! Istanbul is a very big city and if riots do break out in Gezi Park again, there are still a lot of places to visit in the city: You can go to the Asian side, or go west to see Chora Church, or just stroll around the Golden Horn. Wish you have a great time in Turkey soon! 🙂
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Istanbul is on my list for this summer! So excited about the many adventures to have in such a historic city! I loved your pictures, this was a great read! Thanks!
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Hope you have a lot of fun in Istanbul, Kels! It’s such a great city for those who love history, architecture and culinary adventure. I spent about a week there and it was far from enough. I won’t be surprised if you ended up wanting to go back in the future. Istanbul does that! 🙂 Thanks for your kind words as well!
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Awesome read and pics! This just affirms my desire to visit Turkey!
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Thanks Timothy! Just now I was thinking of other places in Turkey which I have yet to explore. It’s such a fascinating country!
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Absolutely gorgeous photos!
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Thank you, Kim.
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Very very beautiful photos! 🙂
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Grazie! That’s very kind of you.
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Istanbul is a great place. Loved the Topkapi Palace – the museum holds such overwhelmingly impressive treasures… the huge diamonds, the apple-size emeralds…
I’m sorry for lonely dogs – they are often hurt souls and some of them are very intelligent.
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Oh I couldn’t agree more with you. With such a long history dotted with Byzantine and Ottoman heritage buildings, Istanbul truly is a magnificent city. It’s sad to see how bad some people treat dogs, they deserve better treatment, really.
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