Take the ferry from Kadýköy to Eminönü
by Lunamagica
One thing you must absolutely do is take the ferry from Kadikoy (Asian side) into Eminonu.... preferably at dusk..... the sight of the minarets and domes rising in the horizon was so incredibly overwhelming that tears started streaming down my face......
Meeting groups in Istanbul
by neodue
I can recomment to apply those websites regarding your request.
you can find safe relations in those groups.Be careful again from the people
met any pub or bar.
http://www.bccistanbul.org/
http://www.ih3.org/
http://www.internations.org/expat/istanbul
http://www.coronaistanbul.org/index.htm
Fountains such as the one...
by Pamela_Peace
Fountains such as the one pictured here are found outside of every mosque. Before entering for prayers, a Muslim must have ablution, or the washing of the hands, face, neck and feet before his prayers will be accepted.
Bosphorus trip
by Birsen
A stay in Istanbul is not complete without the traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty. Modern hotels stand next to yalý (shorefront wooden villas), marble palaces abut rustic stone fortresses, and elegant compounds neighbor small fishing villages. The best way to see the Bosphorus is to board one of the passenger boats that regularly zigzag along the shores.
You embark in Eminönü and stop alternately on the Asian and European sides of the strait. The round-trip excursion, at a very reasonable cost, takes about six hours. If you wish a private voyage, you can contact one of the agencies which specialize in organizing day or night mini-cruises.
YALI (Mansions) AT YENIKOY
by balhannah
At Yenikoy, there are beautiful 19th century yalis (mansions) that line the waterfront of this old Village. The village was invaded by the Cossacks who crossed the Black Sea in 1624.
Since their construction in the late 17th century, Princes, Sultans, aristocrats of the era, and even the wealthy all have staked their claim along the waterway to erect these opulent summer abodes.
Foreign heads of state and ministers have been entertained here with lavish feasts. Once inside, these mansions reveal a floor plan inherited in part from traditional Turkish abodes, with a center salon - or sofa. The center salon contained a fountain to acclimatize its residents during the hot summer months.
Antonio Lasciac, in 1899 designed and constructed Sait Halim Pasha's pink marble palace (now a Hotel) located on the upper European shore of the Bosphorus.
Now days, the newer yali's have become larger and more elaborate, with some yali's now pricey boutique hotels, open-air restaurants and glitzy cafes. One of the best in this category in Asia has to be the A'jia Hotel, a totally renovated 19th century yali that offers state-of-the-art rooms.
Others have been transformed into sumptuous apartment rentals
Owning a slice of waterfront heaven along the Bosphorus will set one back by about $5,000
to $10,000 per square meter.
All of these you get to see on your trip on the Bosphorus, so look out for them!
WHERE..................Yenikoy