Beyond Paris:  East to Istanbul & Turkey

Traveler’s who adore richly layered historic cities will find Istanbul to be an endless trove of treasures. This is no set piece frozen in its Ottoman or Byzantine past as fascinating as that might be.  Istanbul is an energized urban-center of fifteen million-plus citizens and is generating well-deserved buzz as one of Europe’s ‘hottest’ cities.

Contemporary Istanbul is easy to access and enjoy.  Transportation is good and affordable, by tram, bus, metro or ferry.  There are abundant hotel choices and short stay apartments in all price and amenity ranges. The cuisine is delicious and varied highlighting dishes from across this diverse country. You can feast on flavorful street food, in lively ‘meyhanes’, soulful ‘Sofrasi’ restaurants, or in hip bistros.

Istanbul, like all great cities, is a mosaic of distinct neighborhoods.  Uniquely, this city lies in both Europe and in Asia, with the ever-evocative Bosporous flowing between the continents. Much about Istanbul is mysterious, even exotic. The bazaars are packed with products both up to the moment and emblematic of ages past.  Magnificent domes and minarets define the skyline. There are historic gorgeously tiled hamams for a relaxing Turkish-style soak and scrub.  Modern art museums thrive in re-purposed warehouses.  Strong, dense Turkish coffee and modern lattes co-exist peaceably.

The teeming Grand Bazaar has over 3000 shops packed with products of the East… beautiful textiles, rugs, copper ware, jewelry, leather goods and more.  And there is an entire bazaar devoted to spices with evocative pyramids of spices and peppers, plus herbal potions, honeys, nuts and dried fruits.  The street life in the dense Bazaar Quarter and Old City is lively, packed with strolling shoppers, families, fresh fruit juice vendors and Simit-sellers.

Across the Galata Bridge from the Old City the Karakoy and ‘European’ Beyoglu quarters are prime neighborhoods.  Karakoy is a grittier Bosporous-side neighborhood with a lively fish market, good bistros and baklava bakeries.  Ascend the hill via the Tunel funicular to the grand boulevard named Istiklal Caddesi and plunge into an endless feast of shops, cafés, typical animated small restaurants, art galleries, markets and late 18th century shopping passages. This where Istanbullis of all ages come to shop, play, eat and stroll.  And if time permits, neighborhoods along the Bosporous or on the Asian side have much to offer too!

sally@yourgreatdaysinparis.com
Your Great Days in Paris LLC