My Traveling Joys: Blue Mosque

Showing posts with label Blue Mosque. Show all posts

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Street Cats of Istanbul: Photo Post

5/16/2013 02:30:00 AM by Joy14 comments

This is a blog post I’ve been meaning to do for a long, long time.

For the past three years, I’ve collected more than 100 photos of the street cats of Istanbul. If you live here or have visited here, you can’t help but notice these furry felines everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE! I’ve spotted them hanging out in Ayasofya as well as the Chora Church as you’ll see below.

There’s also hundreds of street dogs, but the street cats seemed to be the easiest for me to photograph. Many of the dogs are larger breed dogs and tend to get shooed away from the main streets. (Sadly, they are often abused too.)

I’m actually more of a dog person, but even I can’t resist these friendly cats, except when I’ve had one or two beat at my legs because they wanted food.

I’ve posted about the street cats before in two neighborhood posts which you can find here: The Cats of Çukurcuma, and here: The Cats of Büyükada.

In this post, I’ve been trying to learn some new photo editing techniques using Adobe Lightroom 4. I’ve finally figured out how to make diptychs using this handy tutorial on Jay Watson’s Photography blog. Now, I can pair two images side by side, giving me more room to show you more photos here on the blog. Diptchs kind of showcase a mini story in one. Awesome!

Hope you enjoy!

What do you think of the Istanbul street cats as diptychs?

(By the way, you also should check out another fellow Istanbul blogger’s recent street cat post called: Cat-stantinople.)

Left: Ayasofya. Right: Blue Mosque.

Bottom photo: The infamous Callie the Cat over at my friends' place: Denizen Coffee in Sultanahmet.

Top photo: Cat seeks solitude in one of the many hans in the Grand Bazaar.
Bottom photo: Turkish cat attempts to 'capture' the peacock in Yesilyurt.

Tulip Time in Sultanahmet: Photo Post

3/28/2013 04:37:00 AM by Joy12 comments

If you want to see tulips and historical buildings in the same frame, go to Sultanahmet now.

Earlier this week, I had to run some errands in the Sultanahmet area. Luckily, I grabbed my good camera as I was heading out the door.

The springtime tulips I shared the other week on My Turkish Joys Facebook page are now fully open. I’ve also heard from a friend that many of the tulips in Emirgan Korusu (Park) are blooming as well. Normally, April is the peak time for Istanbul’s tulips, but it looks like everything is blooming a bit earlier this spring.

When I was by the Blue Mosque, I had to crouch down low so I could get the pastel tulips in the same frame as the mosque.

Of course as I was doing so, I had two cute street kitties wander into the photos. I can’t resist taking photos of the abundant Istanbul street cats as seen here in the Çukurcuma neighborhood.

I almost wish I could be chilling about in the grass and flowers like this cat.

Here are a couple more tulip photos from my outing. Enjoy!

Another view of the Blue Mosque and tulips from the Hippodrome area.

Blue Mosque, Bright Lights & Wine in Istanbul

1/21/2013 03:58:00 AM by Joy2 comments

Over the weekend, we met up with friends to hang out over Turkish wine.

It's been a long while since we partook in the Şarap Fridays at Sultanahmet's Four Seasons Hotel. This is great deal if you want to try some different Turkish wines in a luxurious setting from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday nights during the winter months.

We almost didn't get a table because we hadn't made reservations in advance, and the hotel was busy. But the kind manager took pity on us after seeing my sad puppy dog face and set up a table for us in the "Blue Room." I give the hotel five gold stars for the excellent customer service they provided us throughout the night!

On our way to the Four Seasons, we walked by the Blue Mosque and were greeted with a colorful surprise! Now, there's a brightly-lit fountain installed in the park between the Ayasofya and the Blue Mosque. Every 30 seconds or so, the fountain lights change from bright blue to green, fushia, orange, yellow and red.

It's a lovely display! This area has been under construction for several months, and it looks like the work right here by the fountain is finally done.

I took a couple photos with my cell phone, but I wish I had our good camera with us. Guess we'll have to RSVP soon for another wine night at the Four Seasons!

For your own fun Turkish wine and cheese night, you must make reservations by calling 0212 402 3156. Cost is 45 TL per person for the wine flight and open cheese buffet. There's a Turkish wine rep on hand to talk about the wines too.

A night-time view of the courtyard garden at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet. It's hard to believe this fancy hotel used to be a prison during the Ottoman Empire!

Flying Seabird over Istanbul: Aerial Photos

1/18/2013 03:50:00 AM by Joy14 comments

Once we were settled in the Seabird plane, the pilot took us up the Golden Horn a bit so he’d have enough runway for take-off.

He smoothly maneuvered the small plane around. Quickly, we found ourselves gazing down at the Golden Horn and Suleymaniye Mosque as we lifted off into the air.

The Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul as we flew by in the Seabird plane.

The Old City of Istanbul flashed by us, and I was ready with our camera. As you can see from the photos below, we flew over the Blue Mosque, Ayasofya, Nuru Osmaniye Mosque and even a portion of the Grand Bazaar.

Flying over the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, October 2012.

Flying over the Ayasofya in Istanbul, October 2012.

I found it easiest to use the camera’s sports setting so I could take numerous photos in a row and worry about deleting them later. Some of them turned out a bit fuzzy, but overall I was happy with the photos documenting our first seaplane experience and capturing my favorite city on film.

On our return flight from the Turkish island of Bozcaada, we flew closer to the Asian side so we saw parts of Kadıköy, the Fenerbahçe Stadium, Haydarpaşa Train Station and the main Istanbul port.

Flying past the Haydarpaşa Train Station & Kadıköy Iskelesi in Istanbul.

Then, the pilot turned the plane toward the Golden Horn and we continued past the Galata Bridge, Galata Tower and the Beyoğlu neighborhood.

Aerial photo of the Golden Horn & Beyoğlu neighborhood in Istanbul.

Suddenly, the murky waters of the Golden Horn splashed under the plane, and we had landed. The landings were so smooth you really couldn’t tell you had landed except you heard the sound of the water.

Being in a small plane like this gives you a whole different perspective on Istanbul. You see the diverse contrast of old and new Istanbul merging together like some kind of giant puzzle. I was able to see my favorite historic sites as a whole rather than just pieces or the front façade at one time.

I hope you enjoy these aerial photos of Istanbul. Which photo is your favorite?

Next week: Exploring Beautiful Bozcaada

Previous post: Flying to Beautiful Bozcaada – Our Favorite Turkish Trip in 2012

Here's the main Istanbul port where boats are loaded and unloaded as well as the Bosphorus Bridge in the background.

Flying Seabird over the Fenerbahçe Stadium in Istanbul.

Another view of the Blue Mosque with the Marmara Sea in Istanbul.

Flying over the Nuru Osmaniye Camii and Grand Bazaar area in Istanbul.

Flying over the Galata Bridge and surrounding neighborhood in Istanbul.

An interesting overhead shot of the Galata Bridge from the Seabird plane in Istanbul.

Notice all the Turkish flags displayed to celebrate the bayram holiday in Istanbul.

The initial takeoff along the Golden Horn in the Seabird plane in Istanbul.

Istanbul Covered in Snow in Instagram Photos

1/09/2013 03:29:00 AM by Joy15 comments

For the past two days, it has snowed nearly nonstop in Istanbul.

I'm beginning to feel like I live back in Nebraska again!

Did I mention I don't really like snow?

Well, the snow does look pretty at times, but I don't like really having to get out and about in the city when it's like this. The traffic gets even worse than it usually is.

Yesterday afternoon, I donned my snow boots and delivered a fresh batch of pastries to my favorite coffeeshop, Denizen Coffee, in Sultanahmet. This gave me the opportunity to see what the Old City looked like once again covered in snow.

I've walked by the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya hundreds of time, but these historic sites look even more majestic when blanketed with a layer of snow.

Have a look for yourself at my Instagram photos in this post! Oh, and you can find me on Instagram @myturkishjoys. I often post photos here from around Istanbul and my travels in Turkey.

What do you think of these snowy photos?

Selling roasted chestnuts in the snow in the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet.

Fountain in front of the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet Square.

Firuz Ağa Camii near the tramway in Sultanahmet.

Blue Mosque covered in snow - the only non-Instagram photo.

Black bird and a ferry boat in snowy Kabataş.

The sun briefly peaked out over the snow-covered Hippodrome in Sultanahmet.

Pigeons enjoying the snow in Sultanahmet.

Here, you can see how gusty it really was in Sultanahmet.

Buses and roasted chestnut sellers in the snow in Kabataş.

Another ferry boat docked at Kabataş.

Other snowfall blog posts during the past two years:

Sultanahmet at Dusk in Istanbul

4/06/2012 01:56:00 AM by Joy3 comments

Every time, I have visitors I fall in love all over again with Istanbul!

I'm spending my days showing off this wonderful city to my American cousins, who currently live in Switzerland. I sometimes surprise myself with all the historical tidbits I've learned here and now share with others. And I used to hate studying history 101 in college!

When you have visitors, they offer you a different perspective on where you live. They notice different things. They are intrigued, excited by and even jealous of things your city has or offers.

For example, my youngest cousin loved watching the jelly fish in the Bosphorus. Sometimes, it really is the little things in life.

Off to enjoy another beautiful day in Istanbul! This time, I'm packing my sunscreen.

Ayasofya at dusk in Istanbul

Blue Mosque at dusk in Istanbul

Snowball Fights, Snowmen in Sultanahmet

2/02/2012 08:55:00 AM by Joy17 comments

Surviving Istanbul's worst winter in 30+ years

Dressed in three layers of tights, two woolen hats and one winter coat, yesterday I ventured into Sultanahmet with my camera.

I wanted to take some photos of Istanbul's most-visited historical buildings covered in a white veil of snow. This was the quietest I have ever seen Sultanahmet!

The Ayasofya covered in snow!

Apparently, I still looked like a tourist and was stopped by several Turkish men while I treaded carefully on the snowy roads. No, I don't want to buy a carpet. I live in Istanbul, and I want to take pictures of the snow. Yes, the view is çok güzel.

The snow fell quickly. Then, it stopped, and the sun came out for awhile. But the snow would start up again and the wind would start blowing. In between, the snow coming down like dollops of fluffy meringue, I snapped as many photos as I could.

Over by the Küçük Ayasofya Camii (Little Hagia Sophia Mosque), five young, local kids recruited me for a friendly snowball fight, and I built a small snowman for them. The oldest gal, about 12 years-old or so, spoke a little English and she told me they've never had so much snow to play in Istanbul.