The answer is Raki...but what was the Question?
by beatle74
Turkish meyhane's are great people likes to go that kind of places all the time. For winter time my favourite places are Galata Meyhanesi (in Beyoglu) and Imroz in Nevizade str. in Beyoglu. For summer anywhere in Balik Pazari. (Fish bazaar in Beyoglu)
For drinking raki there are some little things that you should follow for civility. And raki is culture in Turkey, so it's better for you to learn some of them before have a dinner in meyhane with your friends.
The best way to enjoy raki (the Turkish national drink, also known as "Lion's Milk"), is with thin, cylindrical glasses and cold (about 8-10 degrees Celsius). One can drink it straight or with water, soda, or mineral water.
Although raki, which is a distilled alcoholic beverage strongly aromatized with anise-seed, can be consumed as a cocktail, more commonly it is preferred with "meze" (Turkish hors d'oeuvres and appetizers) such as Russian salad, garlic sauce, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, cold-cuts, fried vegetables and pastries, cold yogurt soup, brains, shrimp, mussels vinaigrette. These are usually followed by entrees such as shish kebab, mixed grilled meats, steak, fish (pan-fried, grilled, or oven-baked) and, finally, fruits and deserts. The type of fruit does not matter and it can be any kind, depending on the season. The overwhelming favorite among the Turks, to accompany raki, is the combination of melon and feta-cheese. (best way!!!)
Don't drink raki if you are starwing, don't drink too fast. You can think that everything allright after a few glasses of raki, but when your head starts to turn all around the table.....can be too late! :)
Depending on Your Point of View
by mrclay2000
Though Istanbul is ever-increasingly a modern city, there are many viewpoints from which to gaze into its Ottoman and Byzantine past. In the larger sense these images compete with modern contrivances, such as neon and fast food and advertisements, but there are abundant perspectives that exude the real Turkey, the past and present, in all its grandeur. Clearly for me, the most dynamic and spiritual moment of staying in a colossal Islamic city was the daily call to prayer. I always stopped whatever I was doing and just listened. By extension, I came to love the city's multitude of minarets as a symbol of Islam and the former pulpits for the call to prayer.
Fancy something more stimulating than tea?
by NiceLife
Anything and everything for sale - cheaply - from street sellers. Take this case of Viagra - or perhaps not. Not unless you want to stand out from the crowd. The cigarettes are probably more likely to be what they claim - no need to buy a packet - steet sellers will happily sell you just one.
Decorated gravestones
by ozalp
You can easily pass through a tomb of an important character (like Sultans) in Istanbul. We call them "turbe" and they are usually very close to mosques. Also there are some graves around the turbe of the less important person. They were somehow close to the main character (like a cousin, a daughter, a son-in-law, etc.)
The gravestones of these historical characters describe and summarize their lives, as you can see in the pictures. And you don't need to know Ottoman language.
CIRIGAN PALACE (Now a 5* Hotel)
by balhannah
This Palace has quite a history.
The palace was built during a period when all Ottoman sultans used to build their own palaces rather than using those of their ancestors. Ciragan Palace is the last example of this period. The inner walls and the roof were made of wood, the outer walls of colorful marble. The palace is connected with a beautiful marble bridge to the Yildiz Palace on the hill behind and a very high garden wall protects the palace from the outer world.
The construction and the interior decoration of the palace continued until 1872. After he moved in, Sultan Abdulaziz was, however, not able to live long in his magnificent palace. He was found dead in the palace in 1876 , shortly after he was dethroned. His successor, his nephew Sultan Murad V , moved into Ciragan Palace, but reigned after only 93 days. He, who was deposed by his brother Abdulhamid II due to alleged mental illness, lived here under house arrest until his death on August 29 , 1904 .
January 19 , 1910 , a great fire destroyed the palace, leaving only the outer walls intact.
In 1989, the ruined palace was bought by a Japanese corporation, which restored the palace and added a modern hotel complex next to it in its garden. Today, it serves as luxury suites for the five star Kempinski hotel along with two restaurants that cater to guests.
You have to be a guest to be allowed inside, a guard will stop you from going any further than the grounds.
It is still worth a look though, as it is a magnificent building.
Located on Cirigan Caddesi
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Guys fishing on the Galata bridge.
Brighter rear!
Mısır Çarşısı - Jan 2010
taking local bus to Karakoy
